[News] Drouin to return to Lightning AHL affiliate. UPD: Lightning recall Drouin

[Locke]

Originally Posted by codynw

Yzerman probably wants Drouin playing. Sitting him isn't helping anybody.

Playing him isnt helping anybody either really. His AHL team are dead and buried, its all over except for the crying and the likelihood of a trade is low to nil and even if it were then recent performance is unlikely to factor into the equation.

If I were the coach of the AHL team he quit on he wouldnt see a single second of ice for the rest of the season.

I'd make him dress. And I'd make him sit.

I despise indulging temper tantrums.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Locke

Playing him isnt helping anybody either really. His AHL team are dead and buried, its all over except for the crying and the likelihood of a trade is low to nil and even if it were then recent performance is unlikely to factor into the equation.

If I were the coach of the AHL team he quit on he wouldnt see a single second of ice for the rest of the season.

I'd make him dress. And I'd make him sit.

I despise indulging temper tantrums.

He certainly doesn't deserve any special treatment, or hand-holding. But what good can come from spite?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He certainly doesn't deserve any special treatment, or hand-holding. But what good can come from spite?

Human nature.

People see something they think is wrong so they want a punishment.

I would just hope he learned something and move on. If he didn't, the natural course of his life is going to be it's own punishment. That's how life works.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He certainly doesn't deserve any special treatment, or hand-holding. But what good can come from spite?

Hard lessons?

I would certainly think about it at least for one game.

It's more about showing the rest of the team that no one is above anyone else.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He certainly doesn't deserve any special treatment, or hand-holding. But what good can come from spite?

You maintain the order of your team and your authority as a coach.

He took his ball and went home and in his absence others had to carry the load. And theres probably a good deal of resentment about the 'I'm too good to play in the AHL' from his coaches and teammates.

Those guys have earned their ice. They've put the work in. He hasnt. Hes been sitting at home. If you hand him ice time because of his name and draft position you become the Oilers.

And when you become the Oilers everyone loses. So while there isnt much to be gained from spite there stands to be a decent amount to be lost from lack thereof.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Hard lessons?

I would certainly think about it at least for one game.

It's more about showing the rest of the team that no one is above anyone else.

I agree with this. But the rest of the season? That's ludicrous.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I agree with this. But the rest of the season? That's ludicrous.

17 games? Their season is done. Its like being an Oiler, its among the most meaningless 17 games of hockey being played on the face of the earth.

Let the guys who have been playing play.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Locke

You maintain the order of your team and your authority as a coach.

He took his ball and went home and in his absence others had to carry the load. And theres probably a good deal of resentment about the 'I'm too good to play in the AHL' from his coaches and teammates.

Those guys have earned their ice. They've put the work in. He hasnt. Hes been sitting at home. If you hand him ice time because of his name and draft position you become the Oilers.

And when you become the Oilers everyone loses. So while there isnt much to be gained from spite there stands to be a decent amount to be lost from lack thereof.

I'd like to see him sit for the rest of the season also. The kid has a reputation that will dog him for the rest of his hockey career.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Human nature.

People see something they think is wrong so they want a punishment.

I would just hope he learned something and move on. If he didn't, the natural course of his life is going to be it's own punishment. That's how life works.

Problem here is the damage has been done and his reputation is shot. NHL GM's will shy away from a player like this fearing he will become a Cancer in the dressing room. It also looks worse when his own parents had a hand in his quitting the team.

He may have to suck it, swallow his ego and try to earn a spot on the NHL Lightning.

[Kidder]

They passed over Seth Jones. Hahahahaha.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Little known fact, he can in fact still be traded. He is no longer eligible to play in the NHL playoffs after a trade however.

Vancouver, Arizona, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Columbus, Montreal, and very soon New Jersey, Ottawa and Carolina are all possible trading partners.

This applies to the Oilers garbage too; they aren't totally handcuffed from making a deal right now, as roughly a third of the league is still in play.

In both cases, of course, a non-rebuilding team likely does make a lot more sense to incorporate 'entitled' players and whip them into shape as opposed to other losing teams. Also trading more expensive or soon to be expensive players for a guy on ELC that doesn't look set for a huge raise yet. (e.g. Andrew Shaw? He looks to be in a similar spot as Backlund before his latest contract. Chicago would need to re-sign TT, AP and Drouin at the end of next year, but they could probably get another year out of Drouin for 1.5 and then flip him if he's earned another big contract. Obviously lots of other possiblities, just spitballing.).


The best play for the bolts is definitely to wait though; in a perfect world Drouin busts is ass and works his way up to be the #1 callup come playoff injury time, where he can wash away some of the stench under the brighter lights.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Vancouver, Arizona, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Columbus, Montreal, and very soon New Jersey, Ottawa and Carolina are all possible trading partners.

None of those teams have any motive to give up assets at this point.

[Enoch Root]

Yeah, teams in the playoffs don't want to give up playoff-eligible assets for an asset that is ineligible.

Teams out of the playoffs have little motive to make a significant player trade (unless they are clear winners).

Very unlikely to see a deal before the summer now.

[Resolute 14]

Drouin is a player that a team like Chicago or Los Angeles might find very appealing in the summer. Given the cap will stagnate at best, they will like the idea of moving a big ticket player somewhere and bringing in a cheaper, skilled forward in Drouin. Though in this case, odds are it requires two trades or a three-team trade to work, as I doubt Tampa would want to take on large contracts themselves.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Human nature.

People see something they think is wrong so they want a punishment.

I would just hope he learned something and move on. If he didn't, the natural course of his life is going to be it's own punishment. That's how life works.

I totally disagree with that. Locke nailed it.

Originally Posted by Locke

You maintain the order of your team and your authority as a coach.

He took his ball and went home and in his absence others had to carry the load. And theres probably a good deal of resentment about the 'I'm too good to play in the AHL' from his coaches and teammates.

Those guys have earned their ice. They've put the work in. He hasnt. Hes been sitting at home. If you hand him ice time because of his name and draft position you become the Oilers.

And when you become the Oilers everyone loses. So while there isnt much to be gained from spite there stands to be a decent amount to be lost from lack thereof.

Why should the coach dress and play Drouin? He didn't earn jack.

One quote of Bob's I loved a lot was when he said I don't coach contracts, I coach players when he made the decision to sit Wideman who was the highest paid Flame at the time.

If I'm the AHL coach, I have no incentive to play Drouin an upset the team balance, chemistry, and coach's authority. Of course, Yzerman might step in and threaten to fire said coach if he doesn't play Drouin so he can find a trade partner, but if I'm coach, I don't play him of my own volition. And that is certainly not out of spite.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I agree with this. But the rest of the season? That's ludicrous.

Lets put it another way; I'd sit him out as many games as he chose to sit out.

[Titan]

I would hope that he practices several times before being put in a game. If he proves himself in practice he can earn a couple shifts his first game. If he continues to earn shifts after that in games and practices, he gets more. Just like anyone else.

Gifting him first line minutes would be folly.

[Weitz]

They should play them as much as possible as they are showcasing for a trade. Why make him earn his time and perhaps not be able to show what his value is to potential suitors?

[Imported_Aussie]

I would sit him for at least a week, then he only draws in if there is a disruption to lineup through injury or he is training exceptionally well.
Heck, use Drouin to motivate the guys on the team - you keep playing and he sits as long as you play well

[Coach]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Human nature.

People see something they think is wrong so they want a punishment.

I would just hope he learned something and move on. If he didn't, the natural course of his life is going to be it's own punishment. That's how life works.

It's not punishment for him. It's more to show everyone else that there is no special treatment, and to reward the loyalty of the other players by not playing this primadonna that sat out for his own selfish reasons ahead of guys who have been working all year.