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I assume you are talking about in the AHL with respect to the bolded. Regardless, that is not the point of my post.
The reason I am so high on Ferland is that, with his toughness and speed, along with some decent hands, he doesn't need to have top line talent in order to be a valuable top line player.
I see him being something of a Clark Giillies, the big tough - and decently talented - RW on one of the greatest lines of its generation.
Trottier was a great two-way C who was under-rated offensively (Monahan?). Bossy was the star goal scorer (Gaudreau?). Gillies made sure that the other two were able to take care of business in a relatively unimpeded manner.
Now don't get me wrong - Gillies could play. All I am saying is that, because he brought size and toughness, along with some talent and a willingness to go to the net, he had a hell of a career as a top liner.
Had he been slapped onto a third line somewhere because that was his 'ceiling' it would have been a shame for him as well as the Islanders.
I have just always had this feeling that Ferland could (will?  ) be a player like that.
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I like your comparible with Gillies and would add that Granlund although not a winger has a release and shot very close to Bossy's and finds open space like him as well and I think I made that comparison earlier in this thread. Gaudreau could be Trottier in that he would be feeding the puck more even though he's a winger. Would love to see a Gaudreau-Granlund-Ferland line in exhibition this year.