Landon Ferraro

History

2008-09: Landon Ferraro was the leading scorer for the Red Deer Rebels in his second WHL season and skated for Canada at the 2009 U18 World Junior Championship. Playing on a Rebels team that finished last in the Central Division, missing the WHL playoffs, he scored  37 goals with 18 assists and was minus-23 with 99 penalty minutes in 68 games. He skated in 5 of 6 games for Canada at the U18 WJC, scoring 2 goals with 2 assists, and was plus-four with 2 penalty minutes. Canada won its first four games but finished fourth after losing to the USA in the semifinals and Finland in the bronze medal game. Ranked 18th amongst North American prospects in Central Scouting's final rankings, Ferraro was selected by Detroit in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.

2009-10: Ferraro made his pro hockey debut as a 19-year old; appearing in two April games with AHL Grand Rapids following his WHL season with the Rebels. He was scoreless with no penalty minutes and recorded two shots on goal in his brief stint with the Griffins. Missing time early in the season for Red Deer due to a knee injury, Ferraro scored 16 goals with 30 assists in 53 games and was minus-18 with 55 penalty minutes. The much-improved Rebels made the WHL playoffs after finishing fourth in the Central Division. Ferraro played in 3 of the 4 games in the series with Saskatoon and was scoreless and minus-two with 2 penalty minutes.

2010-11: Ferraro endured a difficult final season in junior hockey after signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings in November 2010. Traded to Everett over the summer and named team captain, he got off to a slow start offensively. After getting hot in January he suffered a sports hernia injury. He finished the season with 10 goals and 17 assists in 41 games and was minus-one with 51 penalty minutes. Everett made the playoffs after finishing fourth in the U.S. Division. Ferraro had 3 assists and was minus-two with 13 penalty minutes in the four-game series with Portland.

2011-12: Ferraro had a solid, if not spectacular, first season of pro hockey playing in the AHL as a 20-year-old. Playing a sound, two-way game, he scored 9 goals with 11 assists and was minus-six with 47 penalty minutes in 56 games for the Red Wings' affiliate Grand Rapids. He did not see any post-season action as the Griffins failed to make the AHL playoffs; finishing fourth in the North Division.

 

Talent Analysis

As the son of former NHL player Ray Ferraro, Landon is well schooled on what it takes to be a professional hockey player. He’s a leader on and off the ice, is incredibly articulate and intelligent. Although he’s confident in his abilities he’s not cocky – quite the opposite in fact as he readily admits to initially believing he was better than he actually was during his rookie year. He’s taken that very average season and used it as motivation to get better.

One of the fastest players available for the 2009 NHL Draft, he won that category at the top prospects game in Oshawa. Ferraro is a shooter first and foremost, not that he can’t make plays to teammates but at least in Red Deer he’s counted on to be the guy putting the puck in the net. He’s a tenacious forward and doesn’t give up on plays. He’s not big but he’s strong and likes to battle for position in front of the net but has a knack for getting open in the slot too.

He’s not overly big but like his dad, Landon brings so much to the table that he’s able to overcome what might be a detriment to a lesser talent.

 

Future

He will look to get more ice time and move into a more prominent role with Grand Rapids after a smooth transition to the AHL in 2011-12.