Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
Why? I would say he more/less has to trade him eventually, as he is clearly not someone he wants to build his franchise around, but there is definitely no rush. His value is far from max right now, and it certainly can go up or down. Unless Drouin struggles in the AHL for the rest of the year, his value is going to be higher in the off season.
It is in Yzerman's, and frankly all of the GMs' best interests to not bow to pressure from a player on an ELC...at least not immediately.
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He doesn't have to trade him before the summer, but it is a team distraction right now, so it would help.
And he definitely needs to trade him
by the summer. Next year is Drouin's final season of his ELC, and it is the 3rd season of his pre-UFA status. His value would be less next year than it is this year.
Yes, his value can go up or down going forward, but really, what is going to make it go up? Everyone knows that Drouin has offensive talent. Tearing up the AHL isn't going to change perceptions much.
Conversely, what if he
doesn't dominate in the A?
The bottom line, IMO, is that Drouin is not going to play for Tampa. And the longer this goes on, the more opportunity there is for things to deteriorate further. His value isn't going to go up.