[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

I'm starting to worry about how Ferland is going to produce on that top line. The way I recalled things, he didn't get much of an opportunity for the majority of the season (I took a look and up to February 14th he was averaging 10:43 per game which was 13th on the team for forwards and behind the amount Linden Vey was getting in his 4 games). I figured that it was lack of opportunity and not lack of skill that was holding him back.

Up to Feb. 14
GP: 53 G: 8 A: 7 P: 15 TOI/GP: 10:43 PPP: 3 Points/Game: 0.28 Shooting %: 12.1

However, even after Feb. 14 or for the last 23 games of the season that he played, his icetime went up to 13:30 (9th), but his production didn't actually change all that much relative to his improved opportunity. In that last part of the season Gaudreau (26 points) and Monahan (23 points) were scoring at a very high rate and Ferland only scored 10 points during that period. I thought it might be due to Ferland not playing regularly on the power play but Gaudreau (4 points) and Monahan (5 points) weren't getting the majority of their points on special teams either (Ferland had 1 power play point).

After Feb. 14
GP: 23 G: 7 A: 3 P: 10 TOI/GP: 13:30 PPP: 1 Points/Game: 0.43 Shooting %: 17.5

His production did improve, but most of that improvement was goal scoring. His goals per game rate went from .15 ->.30 while his assist rate saw a much more modest increase from .13->.14. His shot rate jumped from 1.2->1.7 and his shooting percentage also increased from 12.1->17.5. Obviously, goal scoring is very important and 7 goals in 23 games is fairly impressive, but I think there is a legitimate question of whether he actually helped that line or if he was just put in the right place at the right time when Gaudreau and Monahan got hot. Only putting up 4 assists in 23 games while playing alongside those two as they were scoring over a point a game is concerning to me.

Now, if Ferland being on the line gives Gaudreau more room and Ferland is causing turnovers with his forechecking and that is part of the reason that the line played so well, then that is great and hopefully they stick together this season. But, I think the coaches have to be on awake to the possibility that Ferland isn't going to be the answer over the long haul.

I think those stats really show what Ferland is, a heavy body and trigger guy. He is not a possession player and will not drive the play, thus his assist rate is barely unchanged. Plus playing with Gaudreau his actual time with a puck on his stick is way down, he is not responsible for carrying in and dishing, he is a bull down into the corner then open up into the slot for a chance. Its gives that line two trigger guys to watch out for which I think did open up room for Gaudreau to work. If you double team him you leave a prime goal scorer loose. Anaheim may have stifled this line on the score sheet but I think they got the chances still in the playoffs.