At the end of the first round of the 2008 WHL playoffs, he signed his first NHL contract with the Thrashers on March 28, 2008. Reporting to the Thrashers' training camp for the 2008–09 season, he was assigned to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) on September 27.
Following his performance in the first round of the 2008 WHL playoffs, he secured his first NHL agreement with the Thrashers on March 28, 2008. As part of the 2008–09 season's training camp with the Thrashers, he was sent to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) on September 27.