Quote:
Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache
I am not creating a sensationalistic story by saying Ferland plays well, then disappears, gets demoted to the 4th and plays a bit more focused when he gets the chance. It has happened a couple of times.
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Multiple times?
Ferland was taken off of Monahan's line three times.
One of those times was when Monahan was playing equally as poorly to open the season. Jagr helped kickstart that line and both Monahan and Ferland starting playing better because they were naturally going to eventually starting playing better. Ferland didn't start playing "harder".
The other one of those times was after the Nashville game where he got injured but before his injury was revealed and he was shut down for a handful of games. I'd hardly crucify a guy for playing through an injury.
The third time is right now, where Monahan has been playing just as poorly as Ferland on that top line, again. Both players have probably been toughing it out through injury. And Ferland has something like five points in his last seven or eight games.
Player plays well when his linemates play well. Same player struggles when his linemates are struggling.
Bringing in storylines like "needed to be demoted to the 4th to remind him that he can not coast in his own talent, he needs to work " is very much sensationalist. He has worked as hard as his linemates and he has produced as well as his linemates. He has even produced at times when Monahan's been invisible at 5v5. Monahan's a better player than Ferland, but all this nonsense about players needing to be reminded of their place is just silly. It's the kind of crap I wouldn't put past Glen Gulutzan, but I also don't have the highest opinion of the coach who has ruined the development Sam Bennett.