When Jim O達rien was drafted 29th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2007 NHL draft, he decided to leave the University of Minnesota in favor of the Western League.

Over two seasons with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL the Maplewood, Minn., native was able to demonstrate his worth as a first round pick.

But to succeed at the next level, the 21-year-old is morphing from a one-dimensional first line pivot to a reliable two-way forward.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...daily_20100928