The guy is a 6’2”, 200lbs, 21-year-old power forward, with three full seasons of NHL experience and is already widely regarded as one of the top wingers in the game. He’s fresh off a 30+ goal, 70+ point season and was a 6th-overall draft pick who was raised to be a professional hockey player by his Hall of Fame father.
There is literally nothing but upside with this kid, and every single hockey mind around the league sees it too. He’s an early favourite to be the next Captain of this team and face of this franchise, in much the same way that Iginla and Giordano was before him.
He’s played nothing but hard minutes along side our #1 shutdown center since day one, and he’s chewed up every one of those minutes while still posting offensive numbers that 600 other current NHL players can only dream of producing.
Just pay the guy his market value and put the focus back on the ice where it belongs.
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