Quote:
Originally Posted by nik-
If Ferland is our top line RW'er in the future, we're probably in trouble.
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I wouldn't try to think of it like that. Instead think of it in terms of complimenting play styles.
If you have a line with Gaudreau and Bennett on it, who do you want handling the puck most of the time? One of those two. So you want a guy who doesn't need to be handling the puck all the time. If you have the small and shifty Gaudreau then the best type of guy to have on his opposite wing is a big strong winger who can drive the net, draw defenders to him and tie them up, screen the goalie, and win board battles. That type of player will generate more room for Gaudreau. More room for Gaudreau equals more offence.
The ideal makeup of a killer line IMO is to pair a star offensive winger (Gaudreau) with a franchise centre (Bennett) and a power forward (Ferland).
I know some fans don't believe power forwards make as much of a difference as they do.
I mean if we draft Laine or Puljujarvi or Tkachuk then sure we can bump Ferland down to the 2nd line and look even better. But I put Ferland up on the #1 line because I believe power forwards make room for more skilled players and that Gaudreau with his size is best complimented by having such a winger opposite him. Doesn't mean Ferland is our 3rd best offensive player, it's just putting a complimentary player with stars.