When I think of unexpected, I would have to say my player’s career progression. I always had the mentality that I would continue to earn and try to be the best player I could be. With many seasons in Los Angeles trying to break out, I started to see progress, but I wasn’t getting to the level that I wanted to be at. After eventually getting traded to Edmonton I saw some of my true potential unleashed, where I broke the 30 goal mark for the first time in my career, scoring 37.

After a great season and eventually signing in Hamilton, I didn’t expect to have the seasons I did. My first season in Hamilton was a dream for any player, and I had – arguably – one of the best seasons in SHL history. Scoring 43 goals and adding 39 assists for 82 points in 50 games, which equates to an astonishing 1.64 points per game. I also took home almost all individual awards possible, including playoff awards.

And while that season was incredible, I would never have expected to have the season I had this past season. Being the first player in SHL history to eclipse the 100-point mark was incredible and nothing I could have imagined. To go along with that, I scored 48 goals, which crushed the previous record of 42 goals in 66 games. Now I hold the goal records in a season for both the FHM 50-game (43 goals) and 66-game eras.

Looking back at everything I’ve accomplished on an individual level, it’s incredible to see how far I’ve come and just how much I was able to exceed any of my expectations when I took the plunge and declared for the SHL.