I feel like there is a lot of 20/20 hindsight going on here. Full disclosure, I liked the signing at the time. Yes we went more term than others, but that's where UFAs go - to the best deal. I knew about the injuries and concussions, and certainly Benning and the Canucks knew more (or should have known more). But let's not pretend that medicine is all knowing and could predict whether Ferland would play again (safely or not) and be effective. On the personality side, which is probably easier to evaluate, clearly this player wants to play and give it all. So, the real risk was to the owner, not the team. This player will play hard if at all possible and if not he is on LTIR.
And let's not pretend that his desire to play despite his injuries is not a trait that has been praised in this sport for generations. Frankly, I also find it admirable. Of course, the players should be protected, even from themselves. That's why employers normally would have to ensure a safe working condition. Not the NHL, thanks to the CBA. And here is where I think things should change, but it also requires the fans to care more about players' health than entertainment. I think some of the posts here are a positive reflection of that change in thinking, though often misguided by blaming the player or the team. Is everyone just expecting that this player walks out on his teammates and his contract when he wants to play and contribute (and we're not talking about a Harvard graduate here folks, though my rant on the CHL is for another place)? What exactly do they think the Canucks are supposed to do - buy him out and have him count to the cap when instead he could be on LTIR? This is a health and safety issue that is between the player's association and the league, driven by fan mores and co-worker expectations.
I'm sad for Ferland, his health, and the team for missing his potential contributions - but frankly this was probably the worst case scenario with this signing and its not going to have a negative impact beyond the actual dollars paid by ownership. There are so many worse signings to complain about.
And let's not pretend that his desire to play despite his injuries is not a trait that has been praised in this sport for generations. Frankly, I also find it admirable. Of course, the players should be protected, even from themselves. That's why employers normally would have to ensure a safe working condition. Not the NHL, thanks to the CBA. And here is where I think things should change, but it also requires the fans to care more about players' health than entertainment. I think some of the posts here are a positive reflection of that change in thinking, though often misguided by blaming the player or the team. Is everyone just expecting that this player walks out on his teammates and his contract when he wants to play and contribute (and we're not talking about a Harvard graduate here folks, though my rant on the CHL is for another place)? What exactly do they think the Canucks are supposed to do - buy him out and have him count to the cap when instead he could be on LTIR? This is a health and safety issue that is between the player's association and the league, driven by fan mores and co-worker expectations.
I'm sad for Ferland, his health, and the team for missing his potential contributions - but frankly this was probably the worst case scenario with this signing and its not going to have a negative impact beyond the actual dollars paid by ownership. There are so many worse signings to complain about.