I think everything you need to know about Ferland is how he's responded to ALL that adversity last season.
- Bad eating and sleeping habits resulted in coming to camp out of shape.
- Sent down to Utah.
- Sent down to Brandon
- Took turns in the press box with other vets on Brandon.
- Traded to Saskatoon where he had to re-adjust to new teammates.
- Didn't have a great showing (individually or as a team) at the Memorial Cup.
- The whole assault charge thing.
He took all that and instead of quitting like *cough* Ryan Howse, he battled back and is now a go-to guy on the Heat.
Like I've said in the other thread, it's like watching a completely different person on and off the ice. He's goofing around, he's having fun, he's enjoying himself, his teammates and the coaching/training/equipment staff. But he's also taking his job seriously.
Last season he was wide eyed. He didn't know how to be a pro. Simple as that.
|