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

[sureLoss]

Joe Smith @TBTimes_JSmith
#TBLightning GM Steve Yzerman will be addressing the media here this morning. Stay tuned.

[Roof-Daddy]

Not great asset management, but I'd let Drouin sit and rot for the year.

[Badgers Nose]

I wonder if owners and GMs convinced SY to bury him.

Doubtful a trade was made last night.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Not great asset management, but I'd let Drouin sit and rot for the year.

He would also owe them an additional half-year on his contract, like with the Yashin decision.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I'm surprised that so many people still want him after all this. He's reminding me a little of Evander Kane, who also has huge entitlement issues along with his talent. Kane has never realized his full potential in part because he doesn't feel he has to change or become better. Players like that are always going to be problematic, and will often disappoint more than they will surprise.

I was high on the kid a couple years ago, but since he turned pro I've soured on him quite a bit. I would stay away and focus on someone who isn't as purely talented, but is willing to put in work and improve his game at the NHL level.

Give me more Sam Bennetts and less Jonathan Drouins.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Demetric

2. Question, what would happen if TB just left him in the minors .... has 1 more year on his ELC ... but then what. Likely wont sign QO .... so then what? Does he become a free agent if no deal is signed?)

No, if they tender him a QO they retain his rights. He doesn't have to sign to the QO, most RFA's don't. He could hold out, like Subban, Turris, etc. have before him.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

I hope Alan Walsh doesn't represent any Flames players. Agents like him are pooey

Don't see any (I was worried about the same).

But you know who is?
http://www.octagonhockey.com/our_clients/leon_draisaitl

Good luck Grease.

Edit:
Crap! No!
http://www.octagonhockey.com/our_clients/michael_frolik
http://www.octagonhockey.com/our_clients/dennis_wideman

[DFO]

I'd be interested to see if/how much a kid's choice of agent influences a team's drafting decisions. Probably won't be seeing Tampa draft Walsh clients anytime soon.

[Samiz]

Originally Posted by Split98

Don't see any (I was worried about the same).

But you know who is?
http://www.octagonhockey.com/our_clients/leon_draisaitl

Good luck Grease.

Edit:
Crap! No!
http://www.octagonhockey.com/our_clients/michael_frolik

And: http://www.octagonhockey.com/our_clients/dennis_wideman

[Oling_Roachinen]

Meh, Drouin signed the contract without issue. That's where the real 'issue' with agents would come to.

The trade demand lays squarely on Drouin. No one should be suggesting that Walsh had much influence on that, at worst he wasn't able to talk Drouin out of it.

[GioforPM]

Friedman has said this activity is all on Drouin, not Walsh.

Plus, I would expect that a professional vet like Wideman would never do stuff like this. Not to mention Wideman isn't in a position of strength. Frolik - who knows, but he seems like a solid guy.

[sureLoss]

Walsh only personally represents Frolik on the Flames. All the other octagon clinets have different agents.

You can tell who he personally represents by his twitter feed. Any time one of his guys do something remotely good he is hyping them.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Seeing how many normal players Walsh also represents makes me believe that this is coming primarily from Drouin. The agent merely carries out the wishes of the client. It's rare nowadays that the player isn't in complete control of the decision process, and the agent merely advises how to progress with their wishes.

Don't blame Walsh for being the messenger. Maybe he could dissuade Drouin from his course of action, but then he'd probably be fired by going against Drouin's wishes.

[Bourque's Twin]

I'm going to be happy no matter what the outcome is.

If he ends up a Flame, everyone will be excited about the potential impact he could have on this team. Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett, Drouin, Brodie, Hamilton... That's insane.

However, if he goes to another team I will gladly say "not worth the risk of adding a bad attitude to this organization."

[Textcritic]

Walsh is a well established agent, so I doubt any NHL GMs are put off of his clients as a result of this. I am thinking a lot of this is on Drouin. Walsh still needs to represent his client's interests and wishes, even if he thinks he is acting foolishly.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Demetric

1. I don't get why everyone is putting the blame for Drouin and Stamkos on SteveY. Both these situations seems to stem more around the coach, not the GM. Sure the St. Louis could be linked to SteveY, but these other 2, I just don't see it.

If your coach is going to cost you both your franchise star player and your hotshot young prospect, then you fire the coach. In that regard, this is on Yzerman.

2. Question, what would happen if TB just left him in the minors .... has 1 more year on his ELC ... but then what. Likely wont sign QO .... so then what? Does he become a free agent if no deal is signed?

He would become a restricted free agent. Could sign an offer sheet if wanted, or could sign in Europe.

3. Becuase TB will likely want more immediate help than prospects or picks I think something like Colborne + Grandlund + Russel for Drouin + Coburn (but might have to be Carle or Garrison)

Even when a player goes out of his way to tank his value like this, if your proposal for someone else's big name prospect involves only spare parts on your side, your proposal is not a good one.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Walsh is a well established agent, so I doubt any NHL GMs are put off of his clients as a result of this. I am thinking a lot of this is on Drouin. Walsh still needs to represent his client's interests and wishes, even if he thinks they are acting foolishly.

Walsh is a minor league version of baseball's Scott Boras. There are undoubtedly teams that would prefer to have nothing to do with him, but if the player is valuable enough, they will hold their nose and deal with him anyway.

[Poe969]

It's really tough to say he has a bad attitude without knowing the whole story and I don't remember hearing this about him before. It might just be me but I'm leaning more towards this being something with Tampa. I think some of this has to fall on Cooper and how he's handled things. Maybe the team is better off but even Stamkos seems to have issues there. I think Stevey Y is pretty old school too in that he's trying to stick to his guns and play hard ball. I'm not saying I think Drouin is a victim here but I just don't think this all falls on his shoulders. Hopefully other teams see him as an issue and the Flames get him for a song and he turns out to be amazing...

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Even when a player goes out of his way to tank his value like this, if your proposal for someone else's big name prospect involves only spare parts on your side, your proposal is not a good one.

It depends much on the strength of other offers and the urgency to move the player. At this point, I would be surprised if Yzerman is entertaining offers for much more than this.

[sureLoss]

Bryan Burns @BBurnsNHL
Yzerman on Drouin situation: "It's obviously not the position that we envisioned...For various reasons, here we are and we'll deal with it.

Bryan Burns @BBurnsNHL
Yzerman reiterates a deal will be made when it benefits the #TBLightning and team won't be pressured into making a trade.

Joe Smith @TBTimes_JSmith
Yzerman said he never told Drouin camp any deal was close #TBLightning

Bryan Burns @BBurnsNHL
Yzerman said the #TBLightning are "actively and aggressively" trying to pursue a Drouin trade that works.