He didn't exactly set the world on fire at the tournament last year, and he's had a slow start to his year with the Marlies, dogged by an illness that made him seem slow and sluggish for the first weeks and kept him on the fourth line for a time. He has appeared higher up the depth chart, swooping in on the wing in recent weeks, looking like a new man, and adding to his point total, giving him 5 goals and 5 assists in 17 games.
To the fans at Hartwall, he's Sami's son. It isn't just his own potential he's carrying on his back, but all those expectations too.