Quote:
Originally Posted by MBates
I'm all for criticizing performance but this is just making things up. Do you have examples where either Ferland or Bouma have ever, out of fear, refused to answer the call against, well, anyone?
A former truculent player now amateur scout suggested to me this summer that Ferland has the hardest punch in the NHL...he just doesn't realize it. A pretty difficult to assess claim I will admit, but he's basing that on actual experience...you appear to be relying on observing a poor effort in a game filled with poor play.
I think I've seen Bouma dive to block slapshots with his face...if anything he is not scared enough out there sometimes.
Not sure what you are supposedly basing this on.
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Hey look, Ferland became my favourite prospect about 48 hours after the Flames drafted him. That was after I started googling all his fights. I know all about his ability to knock people out, even guys much bigger than him.
He was my favourite prospect and he is still my favourite player because of that potential, but it is because I followed him religously during his junior career and saw him terrorize the WHL, which is why I don't understand why he doesn't assert himself in the NHL.
A big rivalry game like Game 1 of the battle of Alberta and you have Lucic and Kassian asserting themselves physically, and we see nothing from Ferland. He and Bouma were both shown up by a 19 year old Tkachuck in terms of sticking up for the logo.
I just don't understand what it is with Ferland. He has so much potential both skill wise and also from the physical standpoint. He should be one of the most feared guys in the NHL, yet, you just don't see him going out there and asserting himself.
For a guy with his fighting ability, he has a really pathetic fight card in the NHL with names like Dorset, Sbisa, Lipon, JT Miller, Corey Tropp, Joe Labate?. None of these guys pose a threat to him.
I still don't understand why he did not force a fight with Bieksa last year after that sucker punched he took from him. I really can't understand it. I thought for sure he was going to get retribution for that cheap shot, but he barely even looked at Bieksa last year. Now maybe, the two of them hashed things out in the summer and are now buddies. I don't know, but again, I just want to see more out of him. And when I see teams rough the Flames up, and he does nothing, that bothers me, because I know he's capable of being so much more.
You are right, I have nothing to base what I said on, but I'm just really confused as to why he doesn't fight more, why he doesn't assert himself. It's almost like he needs to be prodded all the time. Maybe he's not scared of fighting these guys, maybe he's actually scared of hurting them after all the knockouts he had in junior. I don't know, I just wish he would realize his potential. I had hoped he would turn into the next Gary Roberts for this franchise, but right now, he's looking more like Rene Bourque. He really has to take that next step, cause I don't know how long management will wait for him and I'd hate to see him realize his potential with another team.
To answer your question, no I haven't seen or heard Ferland or Bouma refuse a fight, but I also haven't seen them go out and force a fight when it is warranted. Ferland should have tuned Bieksa out last year after the playoff sucker punch. Bouma also owes Kassian a beating from a sucker punch he took from him years ago. I have no evidence that either Ferland or Bouma turned down a fight from these two, but I know neither of them have really forced the issue with them, and it should be them who forces it as they were the ones who were sucker punched.