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The Curious Case of Jonathan Drouin

September 20, 2014, 12:21 PM ET [81 Comments]
Julie Robenhymer
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It's easy to get excited about the potential of certain prospects, especially those selected high in the NHL Draft, but it's very hard to pull the reigns back when you realize that potential doesn't come to fruition as soon as they slip on that NHL sweater. Such is the story of Jonathan Drouin, whom the Tampa Bay Lightning selected third overall 15 months ago.

While 18-year-old rookies used to be the exception, it is now becoming more and more common as a handful of just-drafted-players make an impact in their respective training camps and end up sticking for the duration of the season. So when a highly touted prospect like Drouin doesn't make the cut, it's disappointing and sends a loud and clear message that he needs to do more. So that's what he did.

In his draft year, he had Nathan MacKinnon - eventual first overall selection in the NHL Draft and 2014 Calder Trophy winner - as his linemate and despite being named the CHL Player of the Year many speculated that Drouin's 41 goals and 64 assists for 105 points in 49 games was due in large part to having such a talented linemate. With the fire inside to prove people wrong - on a variety of levels - burning brightly, he put up 108 points in 46 games last year for the the Halifax Mooseheads. So expectations as he comes into his second camp with the Lightning are sky high, but head coach, Jon Cooper, is saying not so fast... and for good reason.

You may have noticed that I didn't write anything about him during the four-team rookie camp in Nashville last weekend. That's because he wasn't very noticeable and certainly not impressive, especially to the level expected by a top three draft pick. You notice his footwork when he's playing keep away behind the goal line and you notice his speed as he zooms through the neutral zone on an odd-man rush and you notice his vision when he threads the needle with a slick pass, but drape a defender on him and those things are a lot harder to see. He got pushed around a lot - something that comes with the territory of being a skilled guy - but he didn't handle it well and saw how it effected his performance because he wasn't nearly as dominating as you would expect. I wanted him to come out guns blazing and leave us with the impression that he would kick butt and take names and lead the charge for NHL rookies this year and he just......didn't. In fact, I wouldn't have even chosen him as the best player on his own team, let alone amongst the best in the entire camp.

This is not to say he's going to be a bust as it is far too early for that determination, but the learning curve is steep with Drouin. There is no doubt that he has serious skills, but the real question is...can he implement those skills at a higher level?

I am sure that he will some day, but that day is not today and it might not even be this year. It appears that management has come to terms with this and it's time for the fans to as well. This is where I get irritated with the CHL draft rule that says if you are drafted out of the CHL and don't make an NHL team and still have junior eligibility, you must be returned to your junior club and can not be assigned to the AHL. I know why this rule exists, but every now and then you get a player, like Drouin, who has nothing left to prove at the junior level and could benefit from some time in the AHL playing against older, bigger, stronger players, but is practically forced to jump into the deep end of the NHL even though he might not be ready for it. The lack of development options isn't doing players like Drouin any favors.

All of this said, there is still plenty of time for him to sort all of this out and make a big impact. I felt the same way about Jeff Skinner at the Traverse City Rookie Tournament four years ago when I saw him more often than not on his backside on the ice or plastered along the boards and that turned into a pretty successful season for him. So, it's entirely possible for Drouin, who at 5'11, 185 is more physically equipped to handle that aspect of the game, to figure it out as well and utilize his speed and stickhandling skills to evade attackers. It will certainly be a big challenge for him, but it's one that I'm sure he's ready to take on.

Now, if only the powers that be and those on the outside looking in have the patience to see it through...





Julie
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