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

[Dion]

Ducks Should Forget About Jonathan Drouin

Not even Ducks’ General Manager can ignore the fact that having a player on an entry-level deal request a trade is quite peculiar. Not only is it strange, it is very concerning. Here is a guy who has only been a member of the National Hockey League for one-and-a-half seasons, who has proven very little to this point, demonstrating his unhappiness with the team that drafted him so high by demanding he be traded. Think of all the players that do their time in the AHL before they even get the opportunity to show off their skills to the big boys. They do whatever it takes to make it, keeping their mouths shut and letting their talent do the talking.

Drouin’s behavior screams “bad for locker room”. No team wants the extra attention of an unhappy prospect who is blaming his poor performance on the organization he plays for. Anaheim is trying to make it into to postseason and do not need Drouin’s immature attitude as an added distraction.

Drouin’s sample size to this point is still quite small. Even third overall draft picks need a little time to show what they are really made of. However, the feeling of uncertainty is there and nobody truly knows what kind of player Drouin is going to turn into. It has been well documented that Tampa Bay is not going to deal away their player for peanuts just because he demands to be sent elsewhere. Whoever ends up acquiring the forward is going to have to pay a decent price.

If I am Murray, I do not risk dealing away a valuable player and prospects who may turn into such for someone whose only selling point is his potential. The Ducks need players who can produce offense this season and Drouin has not demonstrated this ability at all. Trading away someone like Sami Vatanen along with a future piece such a Shea Theodore for a player like Drouin would be disastrous if it did not pan out. Anaheim may end up dealing away one or both of these players but it needs to be for someone Murray is sure he can get a decent return out of.

http://thehockeywriters.com/ducks-sh...nathan-drouin/

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

I always found how our North American sport leagues evolved fascinating.

In pretty much any other profession, you look for employment and employers advertise. You come to agreement on salary, position, and responsibilities. Generally, if either party is displeased, either can terminate the agreement with notice.

Sport franchises "own players", their rights, and essentially dictate terms. Once you become a free agent, you can sign a contract and dictate terms such as duration and salary.

I still find it strange that an 18 year old hockey player is owned for the first 7 years of his professional life.

The only equivalent I can think of is joining the military, having them pay for school, and in exchange offer years of service.

In the case of Drouin, very stupid move given the nuances of the business today. Hopefully the Flames can pick him up dirt dirt cheap.

Yup. There's very few comparables.

It's a form of entertainment, however, driven by talent. Much like the music industry, except there isn't 1 million promising hockey players like there are singers, there's only a few hundred legit hockey players. So in terms of human resources, it's similar to a hospital. The best hospitals carry the few specialists available in the country. Hence there's so much money pumped into retention in the NHL, including it's CBA negotiations. The only reason the players don't walk all over the owners is because there isn't another NHL-comparable hockey league in North America.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Dion

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.

It's not much of a gamble. We saw it with Lindros. Remember, there have been players who beat their wives, get addicted to drugs, kill teammates in DUI crimes, nearly kill players by punching them to the back of the head, and get so drunk they drive into a Tim Hortons building.

Drouin will play hockey again. His agent is responsible for this, not Drouin

[Dion]

Originally Posted by 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.

If the owners are smart they should be telling Yzerman that Drouin can sit and rot until an acceptable deal is found.

[Vulcan]

This doesn't look good for Yzerman or Drouin. I'd offer them Ruslan Zainullin.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

This doesn't look good for Yzerman or Drouin. I'd offer them Ruslan Zainullin.

Zainullin + Taratukhin + Cervenka for Drouin

[browna]

Originally Posted by 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.

I'm fine with Yzerman here.
1)Tampa holds all the cards as far as a trade. Just because Drouin wants to go because he doesn't like the coach and his agent makes a stink, means nothing. There are probably 20+ players who've requested a trade around the league any given year, we just never hear it unless an agent is being stupidly aggressive. Look at the Harmonic situation, where both sides acknowledge a move is required...but still doesn't happen.

2)Again, Tampa holds all the cards...Drouin has a contract, which TB offered and is paying based on good faith. Him playing is in Tampa's best interest, and, by default, his. But his contract is the reason he can't just take his ball and go home "to do what's best for him".

3)He's only hurting himself, and his agent, who seems to be in these situations moreso than most agents over the years, is giving him bad advice. Yzerman may be playing hardball, but Walsh in screwing over his client and not doing favours to his other clients either, who NHL GM's have to deal with when their contracts come up/FA.

4)As for St. Louis, he felt butthurt because him GM didn't make him as a token pick for Team Canada 2010. Stamkos, yeah playing hardball with. I don't doubt that he's taking his situation 20 years ago or so, when he could've left DET, but decided not to. I think he feels that if a players says he's committed to a city, he should walk the walk. ANd if that means discounts, then so be it. Stamkos isn't giving a discount, so that standoff. Same with Drouin; I'm guessing the "I don't like the coach" routine doesn't play with Yzerman, for a player yet to really grasp the NHL game from an experience standpoint.

5) I'm fine without Yzerman here. Didn't like the idea at the time. He was just a sexy name that people fawned over given his playing reputation. Recall, the supposed other guy that was supposed to come over was the guy who''s failing miserably up in Edmonton in (since it's not a cushy Hockey Canada job, gladhanding sponsors) Nicholson.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

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.

What precedent? This has already been done. Besides, you never know how often this happens behind the scenes

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Why do I continually see St Louis brought up as a mark against Yzerman and proof of his trend of issues with star players? I thought it was pretty clear that St Louis acted like a whiny little bitch and was told to eff off by Yzerman who then fleeced NY in a trade proving he didn't need the little man with a Napoleon complex anyway.

Then we have Stamkos who almost everyone on here and in the media says is good but will be overpaid and could cripple Tampa if they lock up $10-12M in one player.

Tampa and Yzerman aren't blameless but let's not try and build a case against Yzerman just because there have been repeated players with attitude issues in the organization. Look at how many organizations let their players bully the GMs and coaches into idiotic decisions and contracts. Now a GM is taking the high road and we're gonna roast him for it? No way.

[IgiTang]

The team should not have to pay him to just practice while he waits to go another team in the same league, which they could face in the playoffs. If he doesn't want to help their affiliate win, then he sits.

And of course Drouin doesn't want to run the risk of injury and hurt his chance of a trade and a fresh start.

I don't blame either side here. It's simply business..

[djsFlames]

These opportunities don't arise often. Yzerman's hand is now being forced and he'll come at low cost because Steve no longer has the upper hand, as well as Drouin doing nothing for his stock in the AHL.

Jump on it Brad. "Moves for the future only", right?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

This doesn't look good for Yzerman or Drouin. I'd offer them Ruslan Zainullin.

Yzerman is only trying to get fair value for his player. He's doing what any other GM would do. He knows he has a disgruntled player with an unproven NHL record who only has pontential on his side.

GM's will try to argue the unproven point in an attempt to get Droin on the cheap due to the uncertainty. Yzerman on the other hand is forced to trade on the basis that Drouin could be a star with fears he could get burnt if he trades for less. That makes the trade much more difficult.

[sureLoss]

Thanks Photon, for splitting the thread.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

The kid is under contract and the Lightning are trying to trade him as per his request....even though they don't have to.

Not the greatest move by the agent and the kid. Yzerman could let him rot for a while if he wanted.....his trade value would still be ok in the summer.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

The kid is under contract and the Lightning are trying to trade him as per his request....even though they don't have to.

Not the greatest move by the agent and the kid. Yzerman could let him rot for a while if he wanted.....his trade value would still be ok in the summer.

I can't imagine players around the league thinking to fondly of the Lightning organization if they did that.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I can't imagine players around the league thinking to fondly of the Lightning organization if they did that.

You could argue that if players do what Drouin and his agent are doing right now to Yzerman and get their wish then what would stop 2 or 3 or 4 players from doing the same thing next year, knowing Yzerman will just cave?

He's under contract. Yzerman is under no obligation to do whatever his agent wants today.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I can't imagine players around the league thinking to fondly of the Lightning organization if they did that.

The game is also a business. You sign a contract and you are obligated to play by the terms of it.

I doubt that Yzerman does it but at the same time Walsh has made the job of Yzerman much more diffucult. Sitting until the off season is a real possibility.

[Buck Murdock]

Good thing they did their pre-draft "character interviews", lol.

I think this is all on Yzerman. Seems like he over-played the old school hard ass shtick.

[Erick Estrada]

I still don't understand why Yzerman picked this kid over Jones. Never made sense on draft day and today it just looks like a big whiff at 3rd overall. I think the kid has skill but he has a bit of a bust factor attached to him because of his size and the fact that he was one of those late risers that got a lot of attention in his draft year and scouts didn't have a couple of years to pick out his flaws like a lot of players that are highly touted before their draft year. If he put up those junior numbers in the OHL or WHL I would feel better about his ability to graduate to the NHL.

I still LOL at some of the media at draft time speculating that Druin could go ahead of McKinnon as there were those that were split on who was the better player. What nonsense.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Well, sureLoss, you have your ways of knowing all things hockey, so I have no reasons to doubt your explanation. But, it just doesn't make sense, logically. If there was a promise from Yzerman, then Drouin and his agent KNEW that going public would hurt them. Why did they? I find it hard to believe in sheer stupidity at this level of business.

The logic goes like this:

Drouin doesn't care that this reduces his trade value. Why should he care what Yzerman gets in a trade for him? But what it does (he's hoping) is prod Yzerman into making a bad trade now instead of a worse trade 6 months from now. It's actually good for Drouin (in the sense it will make a trade happen faster) if he's regarded as a diminishing asset.

The problem is that the old boy's network of the NHL might close ranks and let Drouin twist in the wind.