Biography

2008-09: Returned to North America and made his NHL debut with Carolina on Oct. 28 at Montreal…Scored his first NHL goal (Curtis Joseph) and assist, including a plus-3 plus/minus rating, in being named No. 1 star on Nov. 2 vs. Toronto…Also played with Albany(AHL)…Career 2007-08: Ranked third on JYP Jyvaskyla of Finland’s SM-Liiga in points and tied for second in goals…Tied for second on the team in scoring during the playoffs, tallying three goals and three assists in six postseason contests…2006-07: Second on Hartford (AHL) in shorthanded goals (three)…2005-06: T-1st among Hartford skaters in plus/minus (plus-23) and fourth on the team with an AHL career-high 32 goals…2004-05:In his first season as a professional, he split time between Hartford (AHL) and Charlotte (ECHL)…Collegiate: Played three seasons at the University of Michigan, totaling 80 points in 119 games…Received the Howard Colby Award in 2003 as the player who exhibited the best sportsmanship…Also named to the 2003 CCHA Super Six All-Tournament team...Part of the U.S. National Team Development Program before attending Michigan and represented the United States at the 2002 and 2003 World Junior Championships.