ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks dˈæʃ nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən, hiː sˈɛt kɚɹˈɪɹ hˈaɪz wɪð θˈɜːtiːn ɡˈoʊlz ænd twˈɛnti fˈoːɹ pˈɔɪnts, bˌʌt hɪz əfˈɛnsɪv pɹədˈʌkʃən wʌz stˈɪl bᵻlˌoʊ wʌt wʌz ɛkspˈɛktᵻd ɡˈɪvən hɪz pɹˈɑːmɪsɪŋ stˈɑːɹt.
In 1996-97, he set career highs with 13 goals and 24 points, but his offensive production was still below what was expected given his promising start.