Ferland's game definitely progressed under Gulutzan, but one thing still haunts him as it has throughout his entire career.
Consistency.
He has amazing stretches of the season that add up to about 30-35 games of the season. The rest of the year he's passable as an NHLer, but nowhere near the same quality of player he is when he's hot.
This is generally a problem of young power forwards, and so I'm hoping to see him work on his consistency going forward. Until then, he will remain a 2nd/3rd line winger depending on if he's hot or cold.
Bennett has been consistent. Consistently bad. His game does not vary much throughout the year, and he keeps making the same mental errors that he did earlier in his career. Trying to deke through the defense or toe drag around them doesn't work in the NHL, especially when you try it 80% of the time. Bennett's game is suited to cycling the puck, but he often loses the puck when he has it in the offensive zone, and that's not on anyone else except Bennett.
I'm still hopeful that a better coach can get more out of him, but the problem with him seems to be between the ears, and not just pure skill, although his shot has let him down for two years in a row now.
He can still be an effective scorer, but his goals are going to have to be hard earned in front of the net. I'm not sure he has the size to do that, which makes me question whether or not he can truly be an effective offensive player in the NHL.
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"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
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