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

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

What did Yzerman do wrong? Player asks for trade, and Yzerman went to work.

Was the player realistically expecting a trade the day after his request? Things take time. The player and agent are way out of line. Yzerman did nothing wrong, and all the player did was make the trade even harder to do now.

What did Yzerman do wrong? I believe he miscalculated, and has set an unrealistic price on the asset. The longer he now waits to get the return he wants, it seems highly likely that the offers he already has rejected will only continue to shrink, not grow.

I think a fundamental flaw on both sides of this is that Yzerman and Drouin are approaching this from the perspective of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft: Yzerman sees a #3 drafted player, and is expecting to receive compensation for a lottery pick. Drouin believes in his top-three draft ranking, and is crying foul because his numbers to date are not in line with his peers from the same draft. On the contrary, I don't expect that anyone outside of TB really cares that much where Drouin was drafted, and are more interested in making a deal based on what has happened in the past two-plus years since the 2013 draft.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

This is a petulant child insisting on special treatment.

Out of curiosity, how do you *know* this is the case and how can you exclude that Yzerman and/or Cooper haven't acted petulantly or in bad faith behind closed doors?

Both sides have a rational reason for Drouin to be a very successful player for the Lightning. In that regard, why do more posters tend to assume Drouin is being irrational and that it isn't Yzerman/Cooper? Just because of his age? Or have I missed some confirmatory news regarding Yzerman/Cooper's wholly rational roles in this?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

Out of curiosity, how do you *know* this is the case and how can you exclude that Yzerman and/or Cooper haven't acted petulantly or in bad faith behind closed doors?

Both sides have a rational reason for Drouin to be a very successful player for the Lightning. In that regard, why do more posters tend to assume Drouin is being irrational and that it isn't Yzerman/Cooper? Just because of his age? Or have I missed some confirmatory news regarding Yzerman/Cooper's wholly rational roles in this?

Drouin has a rational reason to want to be a very successful player.

Yzerman/Cooper have a rational reason for Drouin to be a very successful player for Tampa Bay.

Why should Drouin give two craps about what Tampa gets in return for him? He doesn't have a good reason for that outside of not looking like an ass to everyone outside of the situation.

Regardless of what may be going on behind closed doors, Drouin is the only one who LOOKS bad in this. (Note: not IS bad., LOOKS bad.)

[Poe969]

I think the fact that Cooper has accepted some blame in this shows that it's not entirely Drouin's fault. The rumblings of Drouin quietly asking for a trade last year as well casts some doubt on it all being on him too. The team playing him 2 games short of using a year on his contract actually seems a little "hostile" some might say on management's part as well.

Again, I'm not saying that Druoin is in the right or that Stevey Y and management are in the right. I just think it's extremely unfair to start pointing fingers and calling names. But I guess some people just need to put down others to feel good about themselves.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Regardless of what may be going on behind closed doors, Drouin is the only one who LOOKS bad in this.

I think they all look bad.

[SofaProfessor]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Again, I'm not saying that Druoin is in the right or that Stevey Y and management are in the right. I just think it's extremely unfair to start pointing fingers and calling names. But I guess some people just need to put down others to feel good about themselves.

How about you grab a pitchfork, pick a side, and start yelling?

[Poe969]

Oh ya! Come here a minute!

I do agree that both sides are starting to look bad and the longer it drags out, the worse it'll be. There are just too many conflicting reports that are casting doubt on both sides. There was a deal in place, there was no deal in place. Wasn't given a decent chance, didn't take advantage of the chance given.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Didn't Richards sign a contract with guaranteed money with a team that operates in the same league? How does his money look now?

I have no problem with what he is doing.

Get back to me when you want to make an apples to apples comparison. Or am I missing the part where Drouin got caught trying to transport drugs across the border and ultimately negotiated a settlement with his team?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

Out of curiosity, how do you *know* this is the case and how can you exclude that Yzerman and/or Cooper haven't acted petulantly or in bad faith behind closed doors?

Both sides have a rational reason for Drouin to be a very successful player for the Lightning. In that regard, why do more posters tend to assume Drouin is being irrational and that it isn't Yzerman/Cooper? Just because of his age? Or have I missed some confirmatory news regarding Yzerman/Cooper's wholly rational roles in this?

You answered your own question. Only one of these parties are behaving like children in the public spotlight. Whatever the Lightning are doing, they are aren't going out of their way to make a spectacle of themselves.

[JetsFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Lol. Fair. I can do without him too.. I guess we should get ready for that onslaught next week.

This is why we need Bennett to keep this hot streak going as long as possible so they can talk about that.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

Out of curiosity, how do you *know* this is the case and how can you exclude that Yzerman and/or Cooper haven't acted petulantly or in bad faith behind closed doors?

Both sides have a rational reason for Drouin to be a very successful player for the Lightning. In that regard, why do more posters tend to assume Drouin is being irrational and that it isn't Yzerman/Cooper? Just because of his age? Or have I missed some confirmatory news regarding Yzerman/Cooper's wholly rational roles in this?

You answered your own question. Why would Cooper and YZerman act irrationally? They want to win. They WANT Drouin to be the best player he can be and give him every advantage to do so. Why would they do otherwise? It's in their best interest to help Drouin be the best. In their hockey experience, they thought the AHL route was best for his development. And for the vast majority of players, that holds true.

Drouin seems to think he's above the system, and the minors are below him. The kid needs to smarten up.

[Vinny01]

This is a black mark that the Lightning want to move on from rather quickly. The fact they are winning might not make things as drastic. I still think he heads west to avoid Drouin burning the Lightning later on down the road.

[Savvy27]

I wonder if Walsh has a specific team in mind and Yzerman is holding out for better offers? An experienced agent has got to know that Drouin is decimating his reputation by doing this. I'm having trouble believing that they do not have something specific in mind.

[Vinny01]

I wonder how much of this is tied to Stamkos? Rumors are Tampa recently made an offer to try and retain him. I could see if the deal is reached with Stamkos then Yzerman is going to force a team to take Carle on the trade (which may result in an awful return) if Stamkos has decided to leave then perhaps Yzerman will seek the max return for Drouin and not pair a cap dump with him?

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

I wonder if Walsh has a specific team in mind and Yzerman is holding out for better offers? An experienced agent has got to know that Drouin is decimating his reputation by doing this. I'm having trouble believing that they do not have something specific in mind.

If he has something specific in mind, he's even more out of touch than I thought. Yzerman's going to send him to whoever gives him the best return, I doubt he gives a #### where the kid wants to go. If the offers were equal, I would send him to wherever was the coldest, most isolated and had the biggest logjam of veteran wingers for him to fight it out with.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I think the fact that Cooper has accepted some blame in this shows that it's not entirely Drouin's fault. The rumblings of Drouin quietly asking for a trade last year as well casts some doubt on it all being on him too. The team playing him 2 games short of using a year on his contract actually seems a little "hostile" some might say on management's part as well.

This season burns a year of Drouin's years towards UFA eligibility whether he plays in the NHL or not. After age 20 NHL/AHL is the same. They both use a year of his contract.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I wonder if the Oilers shouldn't be front and center here. A trade of Yakupov for Drouin seems like a possibility, and fair for depreciating assets, but a trade for Eberle seems almost perfect for both teams. Wouldn't that make your stomach turn.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by New Era

I wonder if the Oilers shouldn't be front and center here. A trade of Yakupov for Drouin seems like a possibility, and fair for depreciating assets, but a trade for Eberle seems almost perfect for both teams. Wouldn't that make your stomach turn.

Drouin isn't what the Oilers need, and I'd definitely assume that Yakupov doesn't hold that sort of value anymore.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by New Era

I wonder if the Oilers shouldn't be front and center here. A trade of Yakupov for Drouin seems like a possibility, and fair for depreciating assets, but a trade for Eberle seems almost perfect for both teams. Wouldn't that make your stomach turn.

I would be very surprised if the Oilers are interested in Drouin.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by New Era

I wonder if the Oilers shouldn't be front and center here. A trade of Yakupov for Drouin seems like a possibility, and fair for depreciating assets, but a trade for Eberle seems almost perfect for both teams. Wouldn't that make your stomach turn.

Eberle? I don't see how Tampa can add a $6M salary with the raises needed for their young players coming up. Yak does make sense though