from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,
“He’s got a real rare combination of being hard and smart,” coach Jeff Blashill said Sunday. “A lot of guys that are real hard don’t always have the hockey sense that he has – he has great hockey sense, great compete. He’s got the long reach with his stick that creates turnovers. He just hounds the puck. He also is real trusting of his edges – he knows that he can handle guys being physical against him, so it gives him that extra second to have poise with the puck.