hɪz fˈɜːst sˈiːzən wɪððə wˈaɪld ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd nˈaɪn tˈɛn wʌz lˈɑːɹdʒli səksˈɛsfəl, wˌaɪl pɹˈuːvɪŋ ɐ ɹᵻlˈaɪəbəl fˈɪzɪkəl fˈoːɹs hiː ˈɔːlsoʊ ɹˈɛdʒɪstɚd ɐ kɚɹˈɪɹ hˈaɪ θˈɜːtiːn ɐsˈɪsts ænd fˈɪftiːn pˈɔɪnts ɪn ˈeɪɾi wˈʌn ɡˈeɪmz.
His first season with the Wild in 2009–10 was largely successful, while proving a reliable physical force he also registered a career high 13 assists and 15 points in 81 games.