Bollig and Ferland: What Role Do they Play?

[IgiTang]

I'm not ready to write Ferland off or call him a permanent 4th liner at best.

I have been vocal about how much more Ferland has other than just banging bodies.

At the beginning of the season, Ferland was showing glimmers of some real play making ability, Defensive zone coverage, and skating.

Lately though, it appears he's just mailing it in.

A few month ago, the talking heads were saying how Ferland is a coach's player, does everything asked of him.

I sure hope Hartley didn't ask Ferland to mail it in, because that's what is happening now. Last night against Chicago was the first time I have ever wondered if Ferland has a place on this team.

What he did in the Vancouver series is, in my opinion, the minimum or baseline level of play he SHOULD be playing at.

I'm really confused on what direction his career is going to take.

I hope he takes this off season and really evaluates his own play and becomes inspired again for next season. If not, he maybe a trading chip or find himself playing in Stockton.. Sadly.

[heep223]

I would add Bouma to the thread title. He has been beyond useless this year, I know he's had injury problems but still. He has been really bad.

I still feel like Ferland is getting scoring chances and making good plays, just not finishing. Still have high hopes even after a disappointing season.

Send Bollig away. That's not even a discussion. He's just not a very good hockey player and takes dumb penalties. If you're going to take a penalty, then do it sticking up for a teammate.

[Erick Estrada]

I don't really care much about any of these guys as the team has an abundance of bottom 6 players in the organization and IMO they are all rotational players that can be brought up, sent down, put in the press box, on waivers, etc. Hathaway, Agostino, Hamilton have all come in recently and shown they are just as good and no worse than the majority of bottom 6 mainstays for this team and IMO it's just a matter of the team shedding guys like Bouma and Bollig who make too much money for what they provide. Ferland's pedestrian play of late is due the the head coach gifting him ice time as he's a guy that needs occasional press box time to remember that he's only an NHL player when he's playing 100%. The Flames only need to bolster their top 6 talent as the organization has a wealth of guys that can plug into bottom 6 and it's a matter of drafting the right guys and possibly trading/signing another winger that's a legit replacement for Hudler.

[kyuss275]

Bollig has no place on this team going forward. Ferland does but imo its as a bottom 6 player. Hathaway looks like a serviceable 4th line player that can be a pest. Bouma also has a role on the bottom 6. Jooris can stay as an extra forward. Stajan, as much as i have grown to like him, no longer has a role on the bottom 6. He can be replaced by Grant on a much cheaper contract. That said, don't know who would take Stajan or Bollig without sending a crap contract back?

As for a players like Hamilton and Agostino i would say they should re-sign Hamilton on a 2 way contract. Agostino can be let go. I really don't see anything from him to fill a bottom 6 role and he is nowhere near a top 6 player.

[Enoch Root]

Canadian fans are far too impatient with player development.

Guy doesn't put up 25 goals in his first year? He's a bottom 6 player

[PepsiFree]

I'm going to put a question out there in addition to my previous comment:

Every physical force on our team has been almost entirely neutered this year. Do you think the chances are higher that they've all simultaneously lost it? Or that this is an issue of it being coached out of the game to avoid potential penalties (as we do have the very worst PK)?

[calgaryblood]

Bollig is just a lost cause. He does absolutely nothing on the ice and doesn't hit or fight. Nobody is scared of Bollig and they lick their lips when he's on the ice.

Ferland on the other hand has some potential but not as a top 6 player. He is best suited for a third line checking role that stirs things up. Problem is he's playing like he thinks he's a top 6 guy. Hopefully he gets a reality check soon.

[GranteedEV]

Bollig is trash, but I think the rest of our depth wingers (Bouma, Ferland, Hathaway, Colborne) have played a lot better in the three zones than any of them get credit for (though Hathaway does seem to lack the hands to be a third liner, I see him maxing out as a 4th liner, and with Colborne there's always the risk he regresses to the pre-February trash form). A lot of their struggles are IMHO related to Stajan and Bennett's struggles. Bennett isn't a problem as he's a kid learning the position, but Stajan's lack of.. well.. anything really.. has been killing this team's depth.

As for pidgeon-holing every north-south winger to be a "policeman" I think that's garbage. The truth is the only way to actually police other teams and keep them from taking liberties without thinking it over two times - is by having a dangerous power play. That's the real reason the cheap shots on Johnny are so much more constant this year than last. The reward in throwing Johnny off his game outweighs the risk of putting the Flames on the PP.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Canadian fans are far too impatient with player development.

Guy doesn't put up 25 goals in his first year? He's a bottom 6 player

Or fans that really pay attention to the game have an understanding what kind of player a skater can be. This is not 20 years ago when fans had no idea what prospects could become. Do you think scouts think every prospect will become top 6 players?

Sure there is a chance that one might break the mold and become a top 6 player but you could pick any prospect and give that title to.

[JJ1532]

I don't understand why Ferland is bracketed in the same category as Bollig. People keep referring to last seasons series against the Canucks, but for me, that was clearly an aberration. The fact that he has shown limited physicality and grit this season suggests that that style of play either isn't his game, or he's not being asked to play that way. I'm inclined to suggest the latter. I don't think Hartley wants him to get into tear ups every night and why would he? We aren't a big physical team that takes loads of penalties or gets in teams faces every night and I don't ask them to be.

I just wonder what Hartley asks of Ferland. For me, if he was asking for last seasons play offs kind of performances, he hasn't got them. But, if Ferland hasn't been doing what Hartley has asked, he'd have been scratched way more by now. But the fact that he keeps getting into the line up suggests to me that he is doing what the coaches ask of him. Suits me. Ferlands make or break will be from summer camp next season if he is brought back. He'll have to work hard to make the team and I hope will have to work hard to keep a spot should he earn one. As it is, he's making less than $1m and looks to be doing what the coaches want him to do. That's fine with me.

As for Bollig, is there any chance of getting rid of him in the summer. He's awful at hockey and doesn't even do the job he's supposed to do. I can't remember the last time he got into a fight or even threw a hard check. Watching him is painful and I long for the day that he is no longer on the roster.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Or fans that really pay attention to the game have an understanding what kind of player a skater can be. This is not 20 years ago when fans had no idea what prospects could become. Do you think scouts think every prospect will become top 6 players?

Sure there is a chance that one might break the mold and become a top 6 player but you could pick any prospect and give that title to.

Canadian teams have struggled for a while, and continue to struggle. I strongly believe that the impatience, and over-zealousness of the fans, with respect to criticizing every mistake and every imperfection, goes a long way towards that.

It is much easier to develop and improve if there isn't a microscope up your ass the whole time.

And guess what, some players actually do take a while to develop, despite your superior understanding of what type of player they can be.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I'm going to put a question out there in addition to my previous comment:

Every physical force on our team has been almost entirely neutered this year. Do you think the chances are higher that they've all simultaneously lost it? Or that this is an issue of it being coached out of the game to avoid potential penalties (as we do have the very worst PK)?

I totally agree with this.

It doesn't excuse the complete lack of physicality on the team, especially with respect to standing up for each other, but I definitely think it's a factor that needs to be part of the discussion.

[Canada 02]

I think the problem is the teams culture. Ferland and Bollig were not on the ice when Gaudreau was jabbed by Keith. The 4 other guys on that shift should have done something.

When Hamilton was on top of Seabrook, the Hawks didn't wait until their tough guys were out to go after Dougie, Toews took care of it himself. He is their captain, their leader, he sets the culture of the team, which is to defend teammates

Same thing with the Flyers defending their captain when he was hit by Hanzal. Every Flyer on the ice went after Hanzal

This is a young team that will need to learn that part; as much as I like Gio, he needs to lead the way in setting that team culture

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Ferland isn't an enforcer. Ferland is a late blooming power forward who we are unfortunately developing at the NHL level instead of the minors because of how good he was versus Vancouver. He has the skill to be a top two line power forward if he can put it all together.

Bollig gets a lot of hate and I partially understand why. You guys wanna see him punching faces and taking instigators when I think he does more verbal threatening as our pseudo enforcer. His skill level for a pseudo enforcer is actually quite good. He can skate and make NHL plays unlike a lot of old style enforcers. He's almost a perfect 14th forward to me. Doesn't complain when he's sat, makes his teammates feel bigger. You'd certainly rather be scratching him when we're fully healthy than a kid we're trying to develop.

Overall I think some of you expect too much from these guys. Ferland is still developing. Bollig is our 14th forward. Ferland's play has dropped off a bit lately but that's no reason to give up on his potential. Bollig even though some call him useless probably has the best NHL skills of any enforcer or pseudo-enforcer that the Flames have ever had. Overall I haven't been disappointed with either guy. They aren't the problem and don't deserve to be whipping boys.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

I think the problem is the teams culture. Ferland and Bollig were not on the ice when Gaudreau was jabbed by Keith. The 4 other guys on that shift should have done something.

When Hamilton was on top of Seabrook, the Hawks didn't wait until their tough guys were out to go after Dougie, Toews took care of it himself. He is their captain, their leader, he sets the culture of the team, which is to defend teammates

Same thing with the Flyers defending their captain when he was hit by Hanzal. Every Flyer on the ice went after Hanzal

This is a young team that will need to learn that part; as much as I like Gio, he needs to lead the way in setting that team culture

This is an awesome post. I agree wholeheartedly. I'd hate to think how tough we've made it on the team psyche when a player comes in after reading CP.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Buck Murdock

It seems the league has evolved to guys having to defend themselves on the spot, instead of having a goon running around after the fact. Iggy was tough because he dropped the gloves the instant he felt necessary. If Johnny gets slashed, its almost impossible for Bollig to get on the ice for payback. Either that or everyone takes cheapshots all the time on everyone.

I agree with this. People are living in the past with these "roles". We've known about this for a long time, but our expectations haven't changed for some reason

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Ferland isn't an enforcer. Ferland is a late blooming power forward who we are unfortunately developing at the NHL level instead of the minors because of how good he was versus Vancouver. He has the skill to be a top two line power forward if he can put it all together.

Bollig gets a lot of hate and I partially understand why. You guys wanna see him punching faces and taking instigators when I think he does more verbal threatening as our pseudo enforcer. His skill level for a pseudo enforcer is actually quite good. He can skate and make NHL plays unlike a lot of old style enforcers. He's almost a perfect 14th forward to me. Doesn't complain when he's sat, makes his teammates feel bigger. You'd certainly rather be scratching him when we're fully healthy than a kid we're trying to develop.

Overall I think some of you expect too much from these guys. Ferland is still developing. Bollig is our 14th forward. Ferland's play has dropped off a bit lately but that's no reason to give up on his potential. Bollig even though some call him useless probably has the best NHL skills of any enforcer or pseudo-enforcer that the Flames have ever had. Overall I haven't been disappointed with either guy. They aren't the problem and don't deserve to be whipping boys.

If these guys aren't scoring, hitting, controlling the puck or "intimidating", what exactly are they contributing? Verbal deterrence? Seems a bit of an overpayment for a sharp tongue. Bollig has been around too long and has lost his "edge". It sure looks to me like the same thing is happening to Bouma and Ferland - it's the Rene Bourque syndrome - why kill yourself and get hurt when you have a contract? I am sure it's not on purpose - just a natural human tendency. It's hard to be an asshat day in and day out. Which is why there is no reason to get married to any one of these guys - unless they are truly exceptional, just keep replacing them every year or two - there is always a Hathaway willing to kill himself for $700k coming down the pipeline.
Ferland should be in the AHL, as he does have some upside. I am not sure if that's possible any longer, unfortunately. He is just dead weight in the NHL now. Not sure if he can be "fixed" or not.

[BurningSteel]

I'd rather have more Hathaway

[Cycling76er]

I enjoy Ferland and think he has potential. I've never seen his role as that of the enforcer. What I like about him is that he's physical, he's got hands (we've all seen the flashes of nice moves he's pulled off. He's no Gaudreau but he definitely knows a trick or two. And, if he can think and execute like that occasionally then I feel he could eventually synergize with the top line), and he's got decent speed. Folks just need a bit of patience with him. It'll come.

Bollig on the other hand couldn't stick handle or out skate a Zamboni. He really doesn't bring any physicality either. I don't feel he has a place on the team.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

If these guys aren't scoring, hitting, controlling the puck or "intimidating", what exactly are they contributing? Verbal deterrence? Seems a bit of an overpayment for a sharp tongue. Bollig has been around too long and has lost his "edge". It sure looks to me like the same thing is happening to Bouma and Ferland - it's the Rene Bourque syndrome - why kill yourself and get hurt when you have a contract? I am sure it's not on purpose - just a natural human tendency. It's hard to be an asshat day in and day out. Which is why there is no reason to get married to any one of these guys - unless they are truly exceptional, just keep replacing them every year or two - there is always a Hathaway willing to kill himself for $700k coming down the pipeline.
Ferland should be in the AHL, as he does have some upside. I am not sure if that's possible any longer, unfortunately. He is just dead weight in the NHL now. Not sure if he can be "fixed" or not.

Go around the league and find someone who is "intimidating". Do people not know the rules? Who wants to punch a helmet that's meant to protect your head against 100mph hard rubber pucks?

Nobody drops their gloves and helmet anymore. Almost everyone wears a visor or full face piece. For heaven's sake there was goons a few years back trying to take each others helmet off!

The only retribution you have is a cheap shot