[News] Upd: Drouin decides to sit out until trade is completed. Lightning suspend him

[Calgary4LIfe]

I imagine all existing offers have been removed and replaced with lesser packages.

GMs don't want to trade for another organization's headcase to deal with. Most GMs are really old school still - remember Murray's comments about kids demanding trades on ELC's a few pages back? They know as soon as he is on their team, he will become a problem for the coach to deal with. He will be a problem to negotiate and re-sign with. He will become a problem to retain long-term in the organization.

Drouin obliterated his trade value here. If Yzerman can't get something he feels helps the Lightning at this point, things could get really interesting. I still think Drouin will hold value here, but if I am wrong and GMs drop their offers considerably (and I imagine there may be a few that completely back out), Drouin might end up holding more value to Tampa and being made an example of while keeping him. ECHL? Assign him to some team in Europe for the remainder of his ELC? Work out something with a terrible team in the KHL and assign him there? LoL

Things just got a heck of a lot more interesting. Either way, Tampa is not getting anywhere close to '3rd overall value' - that ship sailed last year, decreased this year as the trade demands were made public, and got absolutely annihilated with Drouin's last stunt.

[GB70]

I'm glad that tampa is playing hard ball. what the ^^%$^% is Drouin or his agent thinking. The kid's a prospect who hasn't established himself in the NHL. Suspension without pay absolutely!. Bad advice from an agent grandstanding never goes down well.

Drouin's made a bold move, Tampa was left with no choice but suspend the player. Now question becomes, Does Tampa do a bold move of there own and inform Drouin that he's on an ELC and has violated team policy on some level and will be shutting him down for remainder of the season and re evaluate in the offseason.

Tampa still holds the cards here not the player. Tampa isn't obligated to trade Drouin. Sooner the kid gets on board and plays ball sooner he may end up traded. Longer this goes on the greater the chance he becomes a "Walsh out" and ends up carving a career in Europe.

If I was in Drouin's shoes I'd fire the agent. Then apologize to the organization and try to make ammends. But were not in the kid's shoes so who knows what's going on. Time for popcorn and beer to watch this train wreck ensue.

[TheScorpion]

Drouin, Allan Walsh and Syracuse are all Top-5 trends on Twitter, currently.

[MarkGio]

The Flames need to jump all over this. Drouin would immediately be the Flames 3rd best winger, only behind Gaudreau and Bennett.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

The Flames need to jump all over this. Drouin would immediately be the Flames 3rd best winger, only behind Gaudreau and Bennett.

There is no doubt Treliving is on the phone, but if the package is much more than roster player + 2nd + Poirier + Kylington/Andersson... he's probably not going to act.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I also see a few GMs around the league who may have players that already requested trades getting a bit sweaty. Maybe Columbus will pick up Treliving's calls a little quicker now on Rychel, just in case he pulls a g(d)rouin?

[AC]

Can't say I'm impressed with Drouin's actions here, however buying relatively low on Drouin could pay off in spades if he is put into a good situation.

[sun]

Death to mega-threads!

SureLoss, I appreciate that you amended the first post. Can you take it one step further and add a link to the post where the discussion of new news begins?

When there are this many active users making so many posts, I really think multiple threads would be better. A guy can't read every post these days, the site is too big. I understand that mega-threads keep the discussion flowing in one central location, but it is a hassle when you don't want to read all 1400 posts - even if half of them are making fun of rerun.

At some point in a thread, quality discussion stops. There's only so much that can be said. The posts, however, still continue and thats where I personally stop reading. Then actual interesting news gets posted and I have no idea where to start up again.

Anyways, maybe that's just me... But either way, I'd at least appreciate links in the first post if that's not too much to ask of the thread starter.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

There is no doubt Treliving is on the phone, but if the package is much more than roster player + 2nd + Poirier + Kylington/Andersson... he's probably not going to act.

I doubt he'd even touch that proposal with a 10 ft pole.

[Da_Chief]

Drouin's at fault but Yzerman is equally at fault.

Consider this:

-They supposedly asked for a trade months back and have not seen much progress.

-Yzerman has repeatedly said he will do what is best for the Lightning so why can't Drouin do the same? what's best for him.

-He would look at Mackinnon, Monahan, Barkov, Jones, Horvat, Nurse, Ristolainen to name a few drafted around him and all are playing in the NHL. All are STILL learning at the NHL level. ALL will soon cash in on their 2nd contracts.

-To say he doesn't want to jeopardize the trade and wants to sit out, what is wrong with that? He was told to go down there for 14 days and he has.

-As someone else said posted, there are prime years for forwards to play at high-end and make the money. The NHL is scary for players heading into their 30s.

-Yzerman has had issues with St.Louis (Lightning legend), Stamkos (their franchise player) and now Drouin. There's a trend.

I'm glad the Flames didn't hire Yzerman the year he was available.

[TheScorpion]

Drouin for Wideman?

please

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

I doubt he'd even touch that proposal with a 10 ft pole.

Treliving or Yzerman?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Walsh has a long list of successful clients. He knows what he's doing.

He's clearly gambling that this latest incident will make the trade happen faster. He may think he know what's he's doing but I highly doubt he has a crystal ball that going to tell him when the trade is being made. This gamble could backfire on him and his client.

[Buzzard]

Treliving.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Yzerman shouldn't trade him until he gets a return he is comfortable with.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

Treliving.

I think in the end, that's the kind of value Drouin is going to end up getting.

I probably wouldn't include Kylington in a package like that since I'm quite high on him, but something lesser involving him wouldn't be out of the question.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

This is all happening while Tampa Bay is in the middle of a 6 game winning streak and is pushing for the division lead after a horrible start to the year.

Quite frankly, I'm betting ownership will let Steve Yzerman do his job as long as his teams keep winning.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

As for Drouin, I partially understand that he wants to get a fair chance, but this is a horrible precedent to set for your entire career:

"I'm not getting the ice time I want."--> Ignore coaching and play an individualistic game.

"I got sent to the AHL even though I think I'm an NHLer" --> play even poorer in the minors and show no desire to change in any way.

"I requested a trade, and even though I'm on an entry level deal and I have no resume to demand such things, the trade isn't happening fast enough for me." --> Stop showing up to games in order to protect my body above all else, indicating I'm willing to sacrifice nothing whatsoever personally to help my team and organization succeed.


Everything about this kid makes me want to punch him in the face. Forget acquiring him just because he's talented, he'll forever be another Alex Semin, Phil Kessel, Taylor Hall. Guys that are very talented but will never help your team win a single thing of importance.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

...
It is going to be interesting to see how the GMs around the league respond to this.

I bet. Drouin and Walsh made it a lose-win situation for Yzerman. Drouin can win if the trade is made to a good team. Yzerman can't win in this trade anymore, because GMs, at least in theory, should gang up on Drouin and say "no way we are going to help making this a successful precedent". Which means, that no good return value is going to be offered to Tampa. Which means that Yzerman and the team owners can really get pissed off now, ignore the mediocre returns available and make the kid suffer the consequences of being a non-playing outcast.

Bad strategy on Walsh's part. Bad handling of the situation by Yzerman.

[Ashasx]

What I think is interesting is how so many Lightning fans have supported Drouin through this and are angry with Cooper more than anything.

Many sides to this story.