The forwards: Ferland brings needed toughness to Canes

One look at Micheal Ferland on the ice and you know he’s not one to be trifled with.

The Carolina Hurricanes forward is listed at 6-1 and 217 pounds, but it’s a menacing 6-1 and 217. No anger in his face when things get edgy. He has that flatlined, emotionless, unnerving look much of the time, even when mashing someone into the boards or going eye-to-eye with them.

Someone like Nashville’s Roman Josi. The Predators defenseman took the brunt of a Ferland hit Sunday in the Canes’ final preseason game, a collision of brutal force.

How hard was it? Josi wasn’t injured, although he might have gone into the boards at 201 pounds and come out at 197. Or so it seemed.

“It’s a part of my identity, being physical, finishing my checks,” Ferland said in an interview Tuesday. “That was a pretty high intensity game for preseason.”

Canes owner Tom Dundon said such plays invigorate everyone -- fans, players, coaches, the owner -- and that Ferland was an example of how the Canes want to be this season. In a word, tougher.

That’s fine with Ferland. When the Preds’ impetuous P.K. Subban tried to rough up Canes center Sebastian Aho on Sunday, Ferland quickly took umbrage and was in Subban’s face.

Soon, the two were in their respective penalty boxes, standing and jawing at each other until the refs forced them to quiet down.

“That’s nothing,” Ferland said, dismissing the incident. “I don’t really care about that anymore.”

On Tuesday, Ferland was on Aho’s line opposite winger Teuvo Teravainen. That’s one way to help protect the Canes’ young center and Ferland is up for it, if that’s what Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour wants.

In Calgary last season, Ferland often was on a Flames line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Ferland didn’t let such things happen to “Johnny Hockey” and go unanswered, either.

“Obviously I played with Johnny in Calgary and it’s a role I’ve played before,” he said. “Just go out there, finish my checks, get pucks deep, try to create for them and go to the front of the net. And help them out when they need help.”

Ferland, 26, came to the Canes with defenseman Dougie Hamilton and defensive prospect Adam Fox in the big June trade with the Flames that sent Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin to Calgary.

“He’s a piece we’ve been missing,” Canes captain Justin Williams said. “He’s tough, he’s got really good hands, he’s a great guy and he’s going to fit in seamlessly with this group.”

Brind’Amour was happy about adding Ferland. Now that he has him, Brind’Amour said he realizes much will be asked of the forward, game to game.

“That’s a hard way to play,” Brind’Amour said. “That will be the challenge, can you bring that every night? Because mentally and physically it’s tough to do. But if he can do that we’re such a better team.”

Ferland led the Flames with 171 hits in 77 games last season, and had just 24 penalty minutes. But he also can help on the power play, using his size to get in front of goaltenders and see if anyone can dislodge him. Six of his career-high 21 goals last season came on the power play.

“When I get a chance, whether on the power play or to shoot the puck ... I like to shoot pucks,” he said.

Brind’Amour had Ferland working on a power play unit Tuesday with Williams and rookies Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov, with either Hamilton or defenseman Jaccob Slavin quarterbacking.

That’s the hockey side of things. Ferland, a native of Swan River, Manitoba, said he has settled into the Raleigh scene with his wife, Kayleigh, and daughter Brynlee, living in the Hayes Barton area near Five Points.

Brynlee, who is 2 1-2, keeps her dad busy and on his toes. She’s always seeking out bubble gum in the mornings, Micheal said, forcing him to try and hide it better.

“When I leave the rink, everything is about her and trying to figure out what she wants to do the rest of the day,” he said.

They’ve visited parks and swimming pools, enjoying the outdoors. It was noted Tuesday that it was snowing in Calgary and sunny and in the 80s in Raleigh.

“It’s been an easy transition, for sure,” Ferland said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect coming here. I came here a month early to work out with the guys and that kind of helped gauge the city.”

And gauge his new team.

“The guys welcomed me with open arms, for sure,” he said. “This is obviously a very young team but a team that is on the verge of doing something really special here.”

The forwards

No. Hgt Wgt Age

20 Sebastian Aho 6-0 176 21

With a better scoring start, could easily top 30 goals for the first time.

7 Phil Di Giuseppe 6-0 192 24

Popular with teammates, he brings some fire on the ice and is versatile.

79 Micheal Ferland 6-1 217 26

Fans will look for the big hits but Canes also need offense from him.

13 Warren Foegele 6-2 196 22

He did too many things well in training camp to be left off roster.

48 Jordan Martinook 6-0 204 26

Former Arizona Coyote offers more toughness, should bolster the penalty kill.

23 Brock McGinn 6-0 187 24

The ultimate sandpaper kind of player, he wants to keep trending up.

88 Martin Necas 6-2 189 19

The Czech center can be a blur on the ice and has some slick hands.

11 Jordan Staal 6-4 220 30

Arguably the Canes’ most valuable player the past few seasons. Enough said?

37 Andrei Svechnikov 6-2 195 18

The No. 2 pick of the 2018 NHL Draft brings excitement with his skill, power.

86 Teuvo Teravainen 5-11 191 24

Dynamic in some games, he set career highs in several categories last year.

71 Lucas Wallmark 6-0 178 23

The Swedish center has played 19 NHL games, wants to prove he belongs.

14 Justin Williams 6-1 184 37

The captain, in 14th NHL season, is counted on for leadership but also production.

73 Valentin Zykov 6-0 220 23

Dangerous on the power play but can the Russian be effective five-on-five?

Plus: It should be a fast, good-skating team with skill.

Minus: Five rookies? That’s a lot of learning to be done.