Being selected in the first round of the NHL is not a guarantee of success, but many first round picks still manage to make their niche in the Bettman circuit over the years. Also, you always have to be more patient with defensemen who take a little longer to develop.
The six-foot-two defenseman is able to contribute offensively as evidenced by his 28 points in 111 NHL games. Defensively, it's been a bit more difficult for him, as he has posted a negative differential every year since his pro debut.
