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Musings: Drouin Trade Rumor Doesn't Add Up, Quick Hits

June 1, 2017, 8:37 AM ET [227 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
DROUIN TRADE RUMOR DOESN'T ADD UP

While anything is possible, it seems unlikely that Eklund's several-times reported rumor of the Flyers being in serious pursuit of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin will pan out in an actual trade. Part of the reason is that the Flyers already have a young player with a similar skill set in Travis Konecny and it's not mission-critical in the long haul to obtain Drouin.

Konecny's rookie-season point production and possession metrics at age 19 (seven goals, 28 points in 70 games, 50.2 CF) are right in the same ballpark as what Drouin did at a 19 year-old rookie with Tampa (four goals, 32 points in 70 games, 53.8 CF at age 19 then 50.7 the next season). It is not a stretch at all to predict that if Konecny stays healthy, he could be up around the same mid-50 point range by his third pro year; again, in line with where Drouin is right now.

Drouin and Konecny aren't identical players, of course. Konecny plays with more physicality, Drouin has the edge in pure skill. Both are a bit undersized and both are working toward cleaning up some weaknesses in their two-way games.

One area where Konecny at age 20 has been leaps and bounds ahead of Drouin is maturity. He didn't come to his first pro camp after the draft as if he already had a guaranteed roster spot (remember that Drouin was a surprise early cut at his 18-year-old camp, whereas Konecny worked his tail off and impressed in the preseason before being re-assigned to his OHL club). When he did crack the NHL the next year, he didn't sulk or run to his agent about how mean his coach was being to him for periodically scratching him or dropping him down in the lineup. If there are some bumps in the road to come in his second pro year, he is not the type to have his agent demand a trade.

Konecny is very self-critical and analytical of the game for such a young man.

“I think eventually I will look back on these experiences I am going through and can use them, whether on the ice, or off the ice, as life lessons. Everything you learn in hockey doesn’t just contribute to hockey and I know you have to work hard for everything you get," Konecny said in April.

Never once has Konecny sulked or acted as if he thought Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol had a vendetta against him. Even the day after a game where he was benched for taking a careless penalty in a game against New Jersey, Konecny had the right mindset.

"I understand what was happening and knew [why],” he said. “I knew I was going to get another opportunity in the game.”

By November of Drouin's second pro year, his controversial agent, Allan Walsh, requested a trade from Tampa Bay, essentially because head coach Jon Cooper was locked in a battle of wills with Drouin over playing with more structure to his game and, when it was not forthcoming, the coach's trust (AKA the player's desired ice time) was not forthcoming. About six weeks later, the Lightning assigned Drouin to the AHL. Walsh responded with this written statement:

"On behalf of Jonathan Drouin, I formally requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning back in November. We have not said one word about this untenable situation publicly until today. It’s in everyone’s best interests that Jonathan be allowed to move on play hockey," Walsh wrote.

He then added for public relations benefit and an opportunity for a thinly veiled backhanded slap at Cooper:

"Let’s be clear, Jonathan loves playing for the fan in Tampa, he loves his teammates and many people within the Lightning organization have treated him well. It was his sincere intention to play in Tampa for many years."

With Tampa general manager Steve Yzerman now having diminished trade leverage, the Lightning stood pat and dug in their heels. Eventually, the Drouin camp relented, at least temporarily. He returned to the AHL, not exactly lighting the league on fire as he scored plenty of goals but played one-dimensional hockey (for a player of his elite natural talent level, 13 points and minus-nine in 17 American Hockey League games is nothing special even with 11 goals).

This season, Drouin made some strides with Tampa. He should still have better years ahead than his 21-goal, 53-point output but he gained more trust from Cooper and his ice was up several minutes per game to a 17:42 average.

All that is fine. I wouldn't argue that having both Drouin and Konecny in the same lineup would necessarily be redundant, because there's no such things as too much skill or speed. However, I wouldn't want the two of them on the same line.

What I will say is that it would foolish to, per Ek's rumor, delete from the assembled cadre of fine young defense prospects and trade other assets to obtain Drouin. First of all, it is hard to know at this point which players among the young D will pan out and to what degree apart from Ivan Provorov, who is coming off a strong NHL rookie year. There is more safety in depth and better odds of a second impact player when you have a pool of promising young players.

Second, between the 20-year-old Konecny, Oskar Lindblom, whomever the Flyers take with the second pick of the 2017 Draft (most likely Nico Hischier or Nolan Patrick), German Rubtsov and maybe even Mikhail Vorobyov or a couple of the skill-oriented prospects still playing U.S. collegiate hockey such as Wade Allison, Tanner Laczynski or Cooper Marody, the Flyers have quietly been assembling a nice pool of forward prospects as well as defensemen and goaltenders. It's not imperative to trade for Drouin, even if he is the most naturally talented of the lot.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall is nothing if not measured and methodical. While I could see him having interest in Drouin, I don't think it would be at the type of cost that Eklund has heard the team would be willing to pay. Secondly, if there was ever actual doubt as to whether Hextall's views of the underlying causes of the Cooper vs. Drouin battle of wills were much more closely aligned to the Cooper's views, keep in mind that Hextall selected Cooper as the head coach for Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Championships. The playing roster, however, did not include Jonathan Drouin but did have Tampa's Brayden Point.

Quick Hits: June 1, 2017

1) The NHL rights to 2015 fourth-round pick Samuel Dove-McFalls expire today. The 20-year-old is eligible to go back in the Draft. Alternatively, it is still possible that the Flyers could sign him to an American Hockey League contract and he could try to work his way up to an NHL entry-level deal.

2) Former Phantoms (and Flyers backup) goaltender Jason Bacashihua has been a hockey world traveler the last few years. After playing last season in Slovakia, he is on the move again for 2017-18. He has signed a one-year contract to play for South Korean team Gangwon High1 of Asia League of Ice Hockey. A few Flyers Alumni have played in that league before, most notably Shjon Podein, who finished up his playing days with a season in Japan playing for the Nikko Icebucks. Podes had offers to continue playing in more prominent leagues, but told his agent that he wanted to play in Japan, Spain or South Africa for a life experience that went beyond just playing hockey.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

The Flyers Alumni will be very active this summer, taking part in three major events. Below is more information on each:

2017 Flyers Alumni Golf Invitational benefiting the Flyers Alumni Association, Flyers Charities and BLOCS. The event will take place at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington on June 26.

Flyers Charity Classic on July 16. Jointly organized by the Flyers and the Flyers Alumni. Participants can sign up for any of four events -- a 5k run/walk from the Wells Fargo Center to the Navy Yard and back, a 10k family bike ride (Wells Fargo Center to Art Museum and back) or individual bike ride (same route), a 50k scenic bike ride through Philadelphia or a 100k bike route. Participating Flyers Alumni include Brad Marsh (team captain), Bernie Parent (team captain), Tim Kerr (team captain), Paul Holmgren, Bob Clarke, Ian Laperriere and Joe Watson. The public can join the teams captained by Flyers Alumni (such as Brad's Ides of Marsh team), captain or join another team or participate individually. More information on teams involving the Flyers Alumni will be coming soon.

2017 Flyers Alumni Fantasy Camp in Atlantic City on Aug. 18-21, benefiting the Flyers Alumni Association and Flyers Charities. Participants will stay at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino and the on-ice activities will be at the Skate Zone in Atlantic City (transportation will be provided). Participating Alumni instructor/coaches include Hockey Hall of Famers Mark Howe and Bernie Parent, Danny Briere, Dave Poulin, Brian Boucher, Brad Marsh, Bob Kelly, Ian Laperriere, and Joe Watson.
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