Jonathan Drouin
Team: Tampa Bay Lightning Pos: LW Age: 20 Ht: 5’11” Wt: 188 Shoots: L GP: 19 G: 2 A: 6 P: 8 Contract status: One year remaining ($3,194,166)
Though Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman hasn’t ruled out a reconciliation with Drouin, it’s probably in both party’s best interest to move on. Currently, the forward is suspended for refusing to play for Tampa’s AHL affiliate; his trade value certainly isn’t improving the longer he remains on the shelf.
While his character appears questionable, Drouin’s talent isn’t. He is a fast, smart playmaker who, when he did suit up for the Lightning, had better possession numbers than anyone on the Avalanche.
Trading for Drouin would also reunite him with his linemate in juniors: Nathan MacKinnon. The pair tore it up for the Halifax Mooseheads en route to a Memorial Cup victory. If they can recapture some of that chemistry, the results could be deadly for the opposition.
Yzerman will take the ice at Coors Field on Friday with the Detriot Red Wings alumni, perhaps he and Sakic can work something out before he leaves Colorado.
