Greg Pateryn had a rough start to his pro career, needing surgery for a broken bone in his elbow. Since returning though, he has arguably been the Bulldogs' top defenseman.
He was so good in fact, that he was the first defenseman out of Hamilton to get the call up to Montreal this season. Pateryn had trouble keeping up with the pace of the NHL at first, and after 3 games the Canadiens elected to try out Jarred Tinordi instead.
That NHL experience is huge motivation for Pateryn though.
Pateryn talked to EOTP about this transition season.
More on Pateryn: 2012's Top 25 Under 25 ranking