It appears as though the seeds of discontent sewed during last season’s Stanley Cup run have taken root in Tampa Bay. Yesterday it was reported that Jonathan Drouin was being sent down to the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
Whether of his own volition or otherwise, Drouin is listed as scratched for the Crunch’s game against the Toronto Marlies today, at Ricoh Coliseum. Not long after it was reported by several reputable media outlets that Drouin and his agent requested a trade as far back as November.
Players of Drouin’s age and caliber rarely, if ever, find themselves on the trading block at this stage of their career. It’s a rare, albeit risky proposition and one worth exploring for our beloved Vancouver Canucks.
What’s fascinating about a player like Drouin, is that he’s representative of only a handful of players in this league which might auger the Canucks short and long-term goals alike. Certainly one of a few which can be acquired by trade.
At just 20-years of age, Drouin’s best hockey is still several years in front of him. That’s not to say Drouin isn’t an NHL ready asset at this stage of his career, as his 1.6 p/60 is good for fifth on the Canucks roster at even strength. Of note is that Drouin’s rate production at even strength actually checks out as the highest on the Lightning, among players with 100+ minutes played.
It’s incredibly difficult to get a read on any one player when they spend the bulk of two years in their coaches doghouse. Such is the case with Drouin, who’s battled lofty expectations and a decidedly unconvinced coaching staff in his first two years in the NHL. In Drouin’s first season, he played in 70 games and potted 32 points, with 25 coming at even strength. Put into the context of his just over 11 minutes of even strength ice-time per game, that’s a remarkably productive season.
Of interest to Canucks fans will be the price tag. For a player of Drouin’s ilk, it will be prohibitive, if not a complete non-starter for some. It likely starts with one of Vancouver’s sacred cows, a group which includes Jake Virtanen, Jared McCann, Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat. Beyond that one wonders about the ancillary pieces involved, as the Lightning are still very much so a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Regardless, any return which doesn’t involve the Canucks first round selection in this year’s draft is worth considering. While things haven’t necessarily gone according to plan in Tampa, this is much more so an indictment of Drouin’s relationship with head coach, Jon Cooper, than it is his abilities as a player.
I remain uncertain of the Canucks long-term succession plan to the Sedins. The most optimistic of projections for Vancouver’s prospects yields perhaps one top of the roster talent – if that. Assuming everything remains constant, this isn’t a problem which will solves itself. The acquisition of Drouin could do wonders to expedite the return to contention, while all the while bolstering the secondary scoring of Vancouver down the stretch run.
