Last season's Pittodrie Player of the Year believes the league is wide open and that competition is fiercer with every side able to beat each other - including Celtic.
The 25-year-old defender told the Daily Record: "The league hasn’t been how people thought it might be in the summer when it became clear there would be no Rangers involved.
"Everyone can beat everyone else, including Celtic, so it’s really encouraging, it’s a good thing.
"It could be down to the fact clubs don’t have as much money now and everyone is closely matched.
"Look at Hibs, they’re flying now after struggling a bit last season. It just shows what a couple of wins can do when the league is so congested."