Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm
Well Ferland needs to play at a consistent level and bring "it" more often than if he wants it, he'd be an anchor on that line at the moment.
Jones has been playing well pretty much all season now, plays a simple up and down game with a good first shot, he compliments Monahan and Gaudreau well. Ferland needs to up his game if he wants a spot like that.
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I think Ferland has played very well. He hasn't been beast mode Ferland but I don't think we or even the coaches should expect him to be in the regular season.
I think the coaches expect him to make the smart choice and be good defensively and I think he's been very good in that regard. I've been watching him a lot lately and he has been very responsible defensively. He has been the guy who falls back to cover the defenseman when they pinch. Hrudey complimented Ferland on a smart decision to dump the puck in instead of making a high risk play.
I know everyone wants to see beast mode Ferland, but there really is a time and place for it. The fact is that beast mode Ferland can really only be deployed in the playoffs, because during the regular season, he will get penalized for most everything he does. I remember earlier this year, he layed a clean hit on Ekman-Larrson and he got a charging penalty for it and he didn't even take any strides. It was as clean a hit as you could throw and he got penalized for it.
His value to this team in the regular season is to be a bull on the puck along the boards, create space for his linemates, and protect his linemates.