[sureLoss]

McKenzie:

http://www.tsn.ca/so-many-questions-...drama-1.418988

How many teams are interested in trading for Drouin? How many of those teams are a possible fit with the Lightning and what does Yzerman expect to get in return?

I believe there are upwards of a dozen NHL teams with varying degrees of interest (please note emphasis on “varying degrees”) in Drouin.

Alphabetically listed, I’d say: Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Columbus, Montreal, Nashville, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Vancouver and Winnipeg, among others.


Some of those teams may be just kicking tires. And, quite frankly, I’d be shocked, and then some, if the Lightning were to trade Drouin within their division and perhaps even the Eastern Conference. So if I were the Canadiens or Senators, for example, as much as Drouin is precisely the type of player they need, I wouldn’t be holding my breath.
As one Eastern Conference club executive told me: “He’s going to the West unless an Eastern team makes the very best offer.”
Not impossible he ends up in the East but maybe less likely.


As for fits, the sense seems to be Yzerman could go in a number of different directions. He could look for a young player of similar value or relative stature – if it’s Calgary, perhaps Sam Bennett; if it’s Vancouver, maybe Bo Horvat – but the Flames and Canucks may not be inclined to go down that road.

Or Yzerman could look to fill a very specific need – a quality puck-moving defenceman. In which case, teams such as Anaheim, St. Louis, Nashville and Winnipeg would be logical trading partners and perhaps Colorado would not (the Avs need to acquire defencemen, not move them).

Some teams are a little wary that Drouin hasn’t established himself as a regular NHL player, but most subscribe to the following view from one club executive: “He is a young player with unrealized potential and someone will give him a chance.”

Many of the executives I talked to believe Drouin could still be an elite NHL player, which of course is why the Lightning has to be so very careful if and when they trade him.