Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
I'm not convinced of anything I haven't yet seen. I don't think he's fulfilled his NHL potential but usually you have a good indication at the age of 25 in what a player is going to be. Guys like Backlund that have career seasons later into their 20's are more of an outlier than the normal. For example people here think Bennett is a disappointment at 20 yet we are supposed to believe a 25 year old guy like Ferland has another NHL level in him? Sorry but if Bennett is putting up Ferland's 25 year old numbers in five years then he's definitely a disappointment as chances are he's hitting close to his ceiling. Remember I'm not saying he should be exposed over Brouwer (I want Brouwer to be exposed and taken), I'm just saying if the team made a deal with Brouwer not to expose him then there's really not much they can do outside of expose Ferland and try to make a deal with the Knights.
I personally believe there's no way they spend a 2nd round pick on Lazar for a few months of play and then leave him unprotected as it would be justly ridiculed as you can't justify spending a 2nd round pick to create an odd man out situation that didn't exist prior to the trade.
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You were one of a handful of people on this site pretty much writing Ferland off after his first full rookie season because he wasn't playing every game like he did in the Vancouver playoff series a year earlier.
It's already been explained he started hockey much later than most players and he possesses a rare combination of size and physicality along with soft hands good speed.
Those things (especially when combined with his size and rough style of play) are things this organization covets.
There is simply no way they leave him unprotected at this point, especially when he is already many of the things they some day hope Lazar might become. That makes absolutely no sense.
The issue here isn't the group of people you feel are over-rating Ferland's potential. This is black and white: What he is right now is enough that he warrants protection. It's just that simple.