QOTD: Where do you like Ferland in the lineup?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

First or second line? Really? Can someone remind me what this guy has done outside of making an over the hill Bieksa look bad?

I agree, I think expectations are way too high for him this early in his career. He came in the game late last season and was relatively fresh, but he was slowing down by the 2nd round.

He has 2 goals and only 26 regular season games, and some people want him on the top line. That seems crazy to me. Was he even on the top line in the AHL?

[Southside]

I put him on 2nd unit with Bennett and Frolik, but it would be interesting to see if he can mesh with Monahan and Gaudreau. If he was on top line, we would benefit from a more balanced top 6.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think I like him with Bennett.

Personally have Johnny-Monahan and Ferland-Bennett as pairs. Then Hudler and Frolik can rotate on the lines as the RWs.

Sounds good to me

[Poe969]

It's so tough to say for sure, there are so many players that look good together. This team is very versatile and that's amazing. Guys like Ferland, Frolik, Backlund, Colborne and even Jones don't look like they'd be out of place anywhere in the lineup. There are so many line combinations that just look good together that it's hard to pick one.

[Bourque's Twin]

Ferland has been good on every line he's played on, because he's a good all-around player.

I think he adds a lot to the top 6.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Ferland - Bennett - Frolik

I think besides Gaudreau, Monahan, and Bennett the rest are interchangeable.

[YYC in LAX]

Don't really care - just want to see him matched up against McDavid for home games.

[Finger Cookin]

No strong preference. I just like Ferland in the lineup. He adds lots of flexibility to the possible line combinations.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Can my answer be "All the lines"?

What I mean is, I would like to continue seeing him get into different lines and and seeing how he does. He does seem to find a way to develop chemistry with a lot of players - maybe it is because he has a really nice heavy shot and does well along the boards. He does have a pretty high IQ that is allowing him to 'figure out' how to be effective with different players. Granlund, Jooris, Stajan, Jones and now I think we were seeing that chemistry start to develop a little bit with Monahan and Gaudreau (though still early).

I personally want Hartley to stick him throughout the lineup and see how he does. No one can definitively state what this kid's ceiling is or what line he should or shouldn't be playing on I think. I don't think Ferland even knows at the moment. What I do think is that he does a fairly good job of making himself a fit on different lines, and let's see if his scoring increases as he gets more opportunities (I think it will).

He is definitely a joy to watch out there.

[shutout]

I like the idea of third line with Bennett. I don't see Bennett being the #2 centerman on the team.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Bouma - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Bennett - Jones/Colborne/Jooris

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

First or second line? Really? Can someone remind me what this guy has done outside of making an over the hill Bieksa look bad?

He produced very well in the AHL and has done nothing but impress in training camp. The guy has scored some decent goals and made some beautiful passes while still maintaining his physical dominance. Hartley has played him on the top 2 lines for games and he hasn't looked out of place.

Personally I think he would be dynamite on a 2nd line with Bennett and Frolik. Both Bennett and Ferland can play the crash and bang fore check game while Frolik brings a steady defensive presence on the ice and helps keep puck possession in the offensive zone (something Bennett will need in his first year playing centre).

[Jackpot_Smooth]

I like how he's looked on the first line with monahan and gaudreau however keeping hudler with them for proven offence is also a plus. I see a fit for him as well with bennett and frolik as well because he also adds a bit of a deterrent for players going after bennett since bennett has a bit of an edge to his game.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

It's an interesting question. Where do I like him? Anywhere in the top 6 would obviously be the best for this club. If Ferland could be a legit top 6 forward for this team playing the game he play's, that's just simply the best outcome for the Flames, but that kind of goes without saying.

I've thought Top 6 has always potentially been Ferland's ceiling, but not where my expectations were for him going into this year. To be honest, the game I saw on the weekend vs. Vancouver, I thought he looked great up there. Last night vs. Colorado, he looked out of place.

So time will tell I guess. I'm not married to any line combo's, although I agree that Mony / Gaudreau just seems to work well, and I believe that Hudler can fit in anywhere in the top 2 lines and be lights out. So I'm simply cheering for, but not expecting Ferland to be on either of the Top 2 lines, couldn't care less where it is. I'm thinking it's more likely he bounces between the 3rd and 4th line as the season goes on this year.

[northcrunk]

I like the size he brings to the top line. Nobody will mess with Johnny while Ferkland is on the ice.

[jg13]

I have him on Stajans line to start the season but I think he could easily end up playing top 6 minutes before the end of the year.

Much like Justin Trudeau, just not ready

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Poe969

It's so tough to say for sure, there are so many players that look good together. This team is very versatile and that's amazing. Guys like Ferland, Frolik, Backlund, Colborne and even Jones don't look like they'd be out of place anywhere in the lineup. There are so many line combinations that just look good together that it's hard to pick one.

there are some pretty obvious things:

1) Gaudreau-Hudler-Monahan is currently one of the top lines in Hockey. They were basically un-stoppable over the last part of last year. They will not be broken up any more than the Sedins of 3-4 years ago were going to be broken up.... until some coach figures out how to play against them.

2) The Burke theory of beef. The Flames now have 4 beef guys that can easily play top 9 minutes 12-16 minutes a game. Ferland, Bouma, Jones and Colborne. All things being equal I would expect them to be in the line-up for every game they are healthy and getting minutes.

3) That leaves 2 spots in the top 9 that default right now to Backlund and Frolik.

4) Bennett, Stajan, Byron, Jooris, Bollig,Raymond start out as the 4th line and get 10 minutes or less a game until injury or poor play push them into more ice time.


Not only line-up spots will have to be earned but so will ice-time over the game. If anyone is having a lackluster (lets call it a Glencross/Raymond/Stempniak kind of game) they should and likely will find themselves getting only 2-3 shifts in the 3rd period.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by jg13

I have him on Stajans line to start the season but I think he could easily end up playing top 6 minutes before the end of the year.

Much like Justin Trudeau, just not ready

But how's his hair?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by jg13

I have him on Stajans line to start the season but I think he could easily end up playing top 6 minutes before the end of the year.

Much like Justin Trudeau, just not ready

Nice hair though...........

Edit: Codnyw beat me to it.

[gvitaly]

I have him on the Stajan line to start the season, but as Hartley loves to remind us his lineups are written in pencil. I feel that Ferland had a very good chemistry with Stajan last season. They were dominating the play and providing secondary scoring. However in games where the other team starts taking liberties with Monahan and Gaudreau Ferland seems like a good option on their wing.

[foshizzle11]

I think he starts the season on Stajan and Jones' line, because they were successful last year together.

I think Hartley keeps our top line together, one of the best lines in the NHL last season. I think Backlund is our 2A centre and Bennett is our 2B centre, they will get pretty equal time I think to start the season.

I think in the future Ferland will be a top 6 player for the flames but he has to earn it first. I don't think he has done that yet.

I see the lines starting like this:

top line: JG - SM - JH
2nd: Bouma - Backlund - Frolik
3rd: Byron/Jooris - Bennett - Colborne
4th: Ferland - Stajan - Jones

This is just to start the season, if all pans out and Bennett earns 2nd line minutes, then he gets to play with Frolik or Hudler, maybe even on the wing on the top line. Who knows.

I think there are many options and I know that Hartley will make all the guys earn every minute they get. What I would like to see happen eventually to even out the roster, if everyone pans out:

JG - SM - Frolik
Ferland - SB - JH
Bouma - Backlund - Colborne
Byron - Stajan - Jones

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

I think he starts the season on Stajan and Jones' line, because they were successful last year together.

I think Hartley keeps our top line together, one of the best lines in the NHL last season. I think Backlund is our 2A centre and Bennett is our 2B centre, they will get pretty equal time I think to start the season.

I think in the future Ferland will be a top 6 player for the flames but he has to earn it first. I don't think he has done that yet.

I see the lines starting like this:

top line: JG - SM - JH
2nd: Bouma - Backlund - Frolik
3rd: Byron/Jooris - Bennett - Colborne
4th: Ferland - Stajan - Jones

This is just to start the season, if all pans out and Bennett earns 2nd line minutes, then he gets to play with Frolik or Hudler, maybe even on the wing on the top line. Who knows.

I think there are many options and I know that Hartley will make all the guys earn every minute they get. What I would like to see happen eventually to even out the roster, if everyone pans out:

JG - SM - Frolik
Ferland - SB - JH
Bouma - Backlund - Colborne
Byron - Stajan - Jones

Frolik has never been on a #1 line in his 7 year NHL career. The Flames have been looking for #1 line since Iginla and Conroy/Langkow / Tanquay

Is Frolik going to replace Hudler without the line as a whole taking a hit?

I think that if Bennett plays centre his style of play will require 2 of the beef players on his wing. The level of physical intensity will increase a lot the way Bennett plays.


JG- SM - JH
Ferland-Bennett-Jones/Colborne
Bouma-Backlund-Frolik ---- real shutdown line