Featured
What Have the Vancouver Canucks Missed with Micheal Ferland Out?
What can Micheal Ferland add to the Canucks’ play-in series?
Just over a week ago, TSN’s Farhan Lalji tweeted that oft-injured forward Micheal Ferland’s concussion had improved to the point where he’s been cleared to skate and could become a possible active addition to the Vancouver Canucks roster during the NHL’s planned 24-team play-in tournament.
Some Canucks’ fans who have never seen Ferland play over the course of a season and during the playoffs might shrug and say “Well, so what? Certainly, the team has done well enough without him.” And, they are right.
However, Canucks’ general manager Jim Benning understands what the rambunctious forward can do and had a plan for Ferland when he signed him. I’m here to say that Ferland can become a huge difference-maker during the playoffs.
Granted, who’d know that? During the season, Ferland’s been injured so much. And, when it was announced during mid-February that he’d be out for the remainder of the 2019-2020 season after suffering yet another concussion, he was relegated to next season’s project. Then came the pandemic break, which gave the 28-year-old more time to heal.
Now the news is that, if the progress goes as it has, Ferland should be ready to rock-em-sock-em in July. And that might match the team’s needs. Ferland’s 2019-20 body of work was limited to only 14 games (with a single goal and four assists in those games).
Related: Two Canucks, Including Goldobin, Sign in KHL
Ferland’s Been a Playoff Menace?
Ferland has such a history against the Canucks that when my neighbor heard they had signed them to a contract during the offseason, he immediately took a flyer and placed a $100 bet on the Canucks to become this season’s Stanley Cup champions. As he noted, he hated Ferland when he played for another team; but, when he signed with the Canucks, things got better.
He remembered the first round of the 2015 playoffs when the Calgary Flames stomped his Canucks 4-2. In that series, a young Flames rookie took charge of the series and moved the outcome to Calgary. As you guessed, that rookie would have been Ferland.
Even on his own Flames team at the time, Ferland only made the line-up that season because of an injury. However, the youngster hit, skated, disrupted, and made such a difference for the underdog Flames that coach Bob Hartley threw him out against the Sedin twins. Ferland’s physical play helped carry the series, and his series-long battle with Canucks’ defenseman Kevin Bieksa became a focal point.
Ferland changed the course of the series in game six in Calgary. After the Canucks took a 3–0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game, Ferland scored twice. His first goal, late in the first period, made it 3-1. His last goal – an empty-netter – sealed the Flames’ 7–4 elimination victory over the Canucks.
What Can Ferland Add to the Canucks?
I have two thoughts about Ferland as a player. First, he has a high-offensive upside, although we’ve yet to see it in Vancouver. He’s a proven scorer if he’s partnered with the right players. Ferland’s an old-school power forward whose unique skills allow him to create space for teammates. As noted, he also hits and scores.
My second thought is that his physical play takes a toll on his ability to stay on the ice. Ferland’s a prairie boy from Manitoba. Although he has size at 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds, he isn’t the biggest player on the ice. His physical style has caused injuries and has tested his durability. In fact, likely his injury history allowed the Canucks to sign him for “only” $3.5 million per season.
So far, he hasn’t been good bang for the buck. Simply stated, the left-winger must stay on the ice if he’s going to help the team and he hasn’t done that. Ferland’s wrecking-ball play was unsustainable during this NHL season and the question remains if he’s durable enough to help the team over the long run. That’s a big question.
Related: Vancouver Canucks’ Jacob Markstrom Mugged by the NHL’s Power Rankings
What Canucks Fans Might Look Forward To
For myself as a Canucks fan, signing Ferland was a reason for celebration. I believe he can make a difference during the playoffs for sure. In addition, if he remains healthy for an entire season I think he might potentially score as high as 25 goals a season. I think he can be a regular 50-point player.
I wish him well during the play-in series and trust he’ll stay healthy both for the sake of the team and for himself as a person and player.
Discover more from NHL Trade Talk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
More News
