Calgary Flames: First line forward Micheal Ferland
By Ramina Shlah
The Calgary Flames got quite lucky with Micheal Ferland. He may just be one of the best bang-for-your-buck first liners in the NHL.
Micheal Ferland is probably one of the most underrated players in the NHL right now. Since being paired alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, they’re one of the highest scoring lines in the entire league this season. The Calgary Flames got quite lucky with him.
Their line has the fifth highest amount of goals scored between the three of them among all lines in the league with 24 goals. Micheal Ferland has eight goals for the year so far, which is tied with his two linemates and the two highest paid forwards on the team. The four teams ahead and tied with them for goals all have higher combined salaries, except for one line combo. But they’re not behind by a lot.
His eight goals being tied with linemate Johnny Gaudreau is quite decent seeing how Johnny’s third in the league in points right now.
Not only does he have eight goals, but five of them came in his last five games. Ferland is currently on a five-game goal streak. During these last five games, he’s tied for second in goals scored with those five. He has the best goals per game on the team with 0.47 since he played in one game less than his two linemates.
So far on the year, Ferland has 11 points in 17 games. His career high in goals and points was last season with 15 goals and 25 points. However, seven of those goals and 10 of those points came from February 21st until the end of the season. That was the day he was initially put on a line with Gaudreau and Monahan, where he scored two goals in that first game, and it somewhat sparked a ten-game win streak for the Flames.
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Even his teammates know how underrated he is.
Via Calgary Herald:
"“He’s sneakily skilled,” Gaudreau said of Ferland. “Guys look at him just as a fighter and a big tough guy, but he’s smart with the puck. He’s intelligent, he can read the play and he has a great shot, too.”“I thought that he could give them a little energy,” said Flames bench boss Glen Gulutzan. “Obviously, I didn’t think he’d pot two right away, but he has that ability.”“All the coaches tell me, ‘When you have a chance to shoot the puck, just shoot the puck,’ ” Ferland said. “I think last year and the year before, too, I would always look to pass first before I would look to shoot. And now, I think, just being kind of selfish and shooting the puck more.”"
Nothing will ever be more amazing and bring me more joy than when Ferland stole the puck from Sidney Crosby and scored.
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Last season, Ferland had 106 shots on goal. More than a third of those came after being paired with Gaudreau and Monahan. If he keeps it up, he’ll surpass his career-high point totals. And he’ll do it at only $1.75 million. He is undoubtedly one of the cheapest top-line players who aren’t currently on an ELC. Every member of the Calgary Flames needs to get this man a present.