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Drouin wants out of Tampa Bay, according to agent
If you thought the roster situation with the Tampa Bay Lightning was already pretty sticky with the whole Steven Stamkos saga, well, hold on a second.
Now, the Lightning's 2013 third-overall pick, Jonathan Drouin, reportedly wants out of Tampa Bay.
According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, Drouin's notoriously not-so soft-spoken agent, Allan Walsh, released this statement.
A statement from Jonathan Drouin's agent Allan Walsh regarding his client's future in TB: pic.twitter.com/Vhwet1IpTW
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 3, 2016
This comes just one day after the Drouin was sent to the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning's AHL affiliate.
The timing of the release makes sense, as Walsh and his client likely believe that Drouin is an every day NHL player. But he has never been able to find his groove with Tampa Bay, and head coach Jon Cooper has kept his play at a minimum for the better part of his entire career, even scratching him for much of Tampa Bay's 2014-15 Stanley Cup playoff run.
This year hasn't been all that much different from Drouin. He's played in just 19 games this year, mostly because of a couple of separate lower-body injury incidents. But the production just hasn't been there, as he has just a goal and an assist in his last 14 games. He just doesn't seem to be fully trusted in Tampa Bay.
But what makes this statement interesting is that Walsh claims this request was made in November, hinting that this originated well before Drouin's latest assignment. This has been boiling for quite some time, it's not just happening because of one recent roster move.
So, what now?
Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman had nothing but nice things to say about Drouin following his assignment to Syracuse, according to Tampa Bay Times reporter Joe Smith.
#TBLightning Yzerman said this is to get Drouin playing time after missing time. Still believes in him. "He's a tremendous young talent."
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) January 2, 2016
#tblightning Yzerman on Drouin: "He's a tremendous young talent, one he needs to stay healthy, get in the lineup + show what he can do."
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) January 2, 2016
Yzerman has never made it public knowledge, or even hinted, that there was any sort of issue between Drouin and his organization.
But here's the thing with Drouin: He has practically no control over his future situation. He doesn't become a restricted free agent until 2017, so even after he enters free agency, he will basically have no leverage whatsoever. If the Lightning choose to keep him, Drouin can't really do anything about it.
But because the request has now become public knowledge, it can get the ball rolling on Drouin's situation. Would Yzerman be willing to fulfill one of his better prospects requests?
Several teams would be interested in Drouin's services, but it's hard to judge his value. Sure, he's a third-overall pick. But he hasn't exactly proven that he is worthy of a blockbuster-type deal. In 89 career games, he has nine goals and 34 assists. And while he hasn't exactly been given the assignments he would like, he has played 234 of his career even-strength 5-v-5 minutes with Stamkos (the only forward he's played with more is Cedric Paquette, according to Hockey Analysis). While he has bounced all up and down the lineup, he still isn't producing lights-out numbers with some of Tampa Bay's top players.
But it's also entirely possible to see Drouin produce typical third-overall pick-like numbers with a different team that is willing to give him a larger role within their offense. And his contract situation is very much ideal for any team that wants him. He's set to carry a $894,166 cap hit next season, and his next contract wouldn't be more much more than a couple of million over a year or two.
Drouin's future will be far more clear in the growing weeks, as Yzerman will address the issue and teams could express their interest in the 20-year-old prospect. But there will surely be trade partners for Drouin. Toronto is in complete rebuild mode, and would love to have Drouin. Could he be that offensive player the Nashville Predators have been dying to get their hands on. Could you imagine him with Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and the slew of young talent in Arizona?
The question is, what's the price, and is Yzerman willing to move him?
