Ryan Lin is soft-spoken and low key.

Considering that, when the Vancouver Giants defenceman says his game “is ready to take multiple steps,” in this upcoming sophomore WHL season for him, it takes on some extra meaning.

It means more, too, because he is coming off one of the best rookie campaigns for a rearguard in recent WHL memory. Lin’s 53 points, including five goals, made him just the second blueliner aged 16 or younger in the league to score 50 points in a season since Scott Niedermayer did it for the Kamloops Blazers in 1989-90.

Lin, 17, is projected to be a top-10 selection in next summer’s NHL Draft. He’s currently in Europe, part of the Team Canada entry that is preparing for the Under-18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Their first tournament game is Monday, when they face Finland in Brn

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