Brett Connolly on Jonathan Drouin: NHL time isn't 'going to be given to you'
Allan Walsh, the agent for Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin, recently revealed his client requested a trade out of Tampa in November following Drouin's failure to establish himself as a regular contributor in the Lightning lineup. Drouin has yet to be traded and was sent down to the AHL Syracuse Crunch on Saturday, but the news of his trade request has led to a wide variety of reactions around the league.
Former Lightning player and current Boston Bruin Brett Connolly was once in a similar position to Drouin, who was the third overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. Connolly was selected sixth overall by the Lightning in the 2010 NHL Draft, and he also struggled to produce at the NHL level, managing 15 points in 68 games in his rookie season before spending the majority of the next two seasons in the AHL.
Connolly spoke to reporters recently about his thoughts on the Drouin situation, and he noted Drouin is a good kid who just needs to keep working hard.
Via WEEI:
"He’s a good player. He’s got a lot of talent,” Connolly told reporters of Drouin. “Young guys come in the league and you realize really fast that it’s a tough league. You’ve got to find your game and you’ve got to work at it. It’s not going to be given to you no matter how high a draft pick you are."
Connolly never exceeded his rookie season totals with the Lightning, as he posted 15 points in 50 games with Tampa Bay last year before the Lightning traded Connolly to the Bruins for draft picks at the 2015 trade deadline. The 23-year-old is starting to pick up his scoring pace in the NHL this season, as he has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) through 36 games with the Bruins.
