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“Part of the reason he didn’t play much in the first half was because of his innate hunger and drive,” USNTDP coach John Wroblewski said Thursday. “And because he has one speed, we actually decided to put him on the shelf two or three weeks longer than we needed to when he was reinjured because of how hard he practises, what kind of kid he is and how hard he plays.

“He was more ready because we held him back. His speed and power are exceptional. He’s a drive first type of player, but he’s so slippery. He has the one-on-one ability to carve and slash and open up ice for his teammates, do the dirty work in the D-zone and play net front on power play and is fluent on the half wall.

“There are no deficiencies to his game and there’s a reason he went No. 5. He checks every single box. He’s the consummate teammate, very polite, thoughtful and intelligent.”

Turcotte excelled in the U.S. Hockey League and at the world under-18 championship last May in Sweden where the U.S. captured bronze. The 5-11, 186-pound Island Lake, Ill. native had nine points (4-5) in seven games and during a Thursday practice at UBC he looked and sounded like someone well ahead of the development curve.

Turcotte likes to model his game and demeanour after Jonathan Toews. There was considerable pre-draft buzz that the Chicago Blackhawks would selected the local kid third overall as their future No. 1 centre, but opted for the 6-4 Kirby Dach of the Saskatoon Blades.

Regardless, Turcotte could eventually supplant Anze Kopitar as the go-to centre for the Kings, so the go-go mentality is of considerable value.