On the Lightning Web site, there is a link to a Presser with Mr. Yzerman discussing the move of sending Jonathan Drouin to the AHL for a little while--the length of the stay yet to be determined. According to Mr. Yzerman, "it is about playing-time." Drouin has played "just nine games in the last nine weeks...We did this with Andrei [Vasilevskiy] as well."

When asked whether it was about the quality of play lately and whether he had lost confidence in Drouin, Mr. Yzerman said, "No...I think [Drouin] is a tremendous young talent...We like to put our players in a position where they can succeed...He just needs to stay healthy and show what he can do...With everybody coming back [from injury] right now, this just seems to make the most sense" [to give Drouin playing time, as the Lightning did with Vasilevskiy].

Mr. Yzerman didn't mention this, but part of the issue is that a young talent, Jonathan Marchessault, acquired from the Blue Jackets in March of 2014, has been quite effective lately. Marchessault has played his way into the Lightning line-up while up from Syracuse in the wake of multiple injuries to Lightning forwards. Ondre Palat is scheduled to return from injury tonight against the Minnesota Wild, and Marchessault truly deserves to continue logging forth-line minutes with the Lightning. He has even worked his way onto the second unit of the power play, and to good effect. In just 21 games, Marchessault has scored 6 goals and contributed 5 assists (11 points), with a shooting percentage of 14.3. Four of his six goals have been on the power play. He's also fiesty, has very good hand-eye coordination, and is a scrappy presence in front of the net.

In more pressing news john Scott named pacific division captain , we did it boys!

On the Lightning Web site, there is a link to a Presser with Mr. Yzerman discussing the move of sending Jonathan Drouin to the AHL for a little while--the length of the stay yet to be determined. According to Mr. Yzerman, "it is about playing-time." Drouin has played "just nine games in the last nine weeks...We did this with Andrei
- TommyRitas[Vasilevskiy] as well."

When asked whether it was about quality of play lately, Mr. Yzerman said, "No...I think [Drouin] is a fine young talent...With everybody coming back [from injury] right now, this just seems to make the most sense" [to give Drouin playing time, as the Lightning did with Vasilevskiy].

Mr. Yzerman didn't mention this, but part of the issue is that a young talent, Jonathan Marchessault, acquired from the Blue Jackets in March of 2014, has been quite effective lately. Marchessault has played his way into the Lightning line-up while up from Syracuse in the wake of multiple injuries to Lightning forwards this year. Ondre Palat is scheduled to return from injury tonight against the Minnesota Wild, and Marchessault truly deserves to continue logging forth-line minutes with the Lightning. He has even worked his way onto the second unit of the power play, and to good effect. In just 21 games, Marchessault has scored 6 goals and contributed 5 assists (11 points), with a shooting percentage of 14.3. Four of his six goals have been on the power play. He's also fiesty, has very good hand-eye coordination, and is a scrappy presence in front of the net.

It surprises me though that of the waiver eligible players (Drouin, Nesterov, Paquette), that Drouin is the one that was sent down.. in my opinion it should have been Paquette. Dude's a bum.

It surprises me though that of the waiver eligible players (Drouin, Nesterov, Paquette), that Drouin is the one that was sent down.. in my opinion it should have been Paquette. Dude's a bum.
- j.boyd919

But Paquette plays on the 3rd and 4th line. Send Drouin down to play 20+ minutes on the top line for the Crunch since Cooper is adamant to have some combination of Killorn-Filppula-Stamkos-Johnson-Palat-Kucherov-Callahan in his top 6. Will be interesting to see if Vlads minutes go way down and him a bottom liner now that all the Fs are back. Paquette serves his role of bottom line grinder. Drouin gets minutes and when he comes back hopefully in the top 6.

He's coming to Colorado to reunite with Mackinnon, obviously.

Seth Jones would've been the better choice, considering the assets they gave up for Coburn.
- freeman49

Agree

I thought it was a no brainer tbh

He's coming to Colorado to reunite with Mackinnon, obviously.
- martok2309

I think if Drouin is moving he'll be moved as a package for a franchise player. Maybe Drouin + for duchene

But Paquette plays on the 3rd and 4th line. Send Drouin down to play 20+ minutes on the top line for the Crunch since Cooper is adamant to have some combination of Killorn-Filppula-Stamkos-Johnson-Palat-Kucherov-Callahan in his top 6. Will be interesting to see if Vlads minutes go way down and him a bottom liner now that all the Fs are back. Paquette serves his role of bottom line grinder. Drouin gets minutes and when he comes back hopefully in the top 6.
- stammerman

Callahan is garbage though. He should not be a top 6 option. Callahan should be the bottom line grinder, and Drouin up with Stammer.

Has this guy ever actually predicted anything?

Has this guy ever actually predicted anything?
- isles10289

no.

Verbeek and Yzerman have been scouting Blues games around Christmas time.

Callahan is garbage though. He should not be a top 6 option. Callahan should be the bottom line grinder, and Drouin up with Stammer.
- j.boyd919

Totally agree Callahan should not be top 6 but Cooper likes to put him up there. When Drouin comes back he needs to be top six so either Killorn or Filppula goes down to the third line.

Will be interesting to see what happens with everything at the trade deadline for a lot of the Bolts players the dominos will fall once the Stamkos situation becomes crystal clear out in the open and to me that will be the trade deadline.

Drouin for TT

Verbeek and Yzerman have been scouting Blues games around Christmas time.
- stljam

Ya they want shattenkirk

He would fit in nicely in buffalo, they could have the "bust line" with Reinhart and drouin"

Habs won't, or at least shouldn't give up the assets it's gonna take to acquire this guy
- obie

What assets do they have???...

Might as well include Calgary in that list. Tre's in on every young talent.

Might as well include Calgary in that list. Tre's in on every young talent.
- TandA4Flames

Ic

What assets do they have???...
- Fruitcakenipple

Galchenyuk, McCarron, Beaulieu, Gallagher, 1st round pick...

He might use him to replace the inevitable Stamkos departure, a package around Drouin to Columbus for Johansson could make sense
- obie

Makes zero sense for Columbus. If CBJ are trading Ryan Johansen it's going to be for a stud defenseman or another quality centerman. Top 3 dman is the obvious need for the organization and they'll be looking for a younger player at that. My guess would be 25 and under top 3 dman. Not many of those. It's why I think Nashville (Jones) and Calgary (Hamilton) are the two most likely partners for Columbus. Minnesota is another possibility. Drouin? Not so much.

You have the tinfoil hat on again Ek?

I think if Drouin is moving he'll be moved as a package for a franchise player. Maybe Drouin + for duchene
- biglove89

Why? Drouin hasn't shown he can play the NHL game. If you watch him it looks as though the game is too fast for him, not the skating speed but the decision making. He turns the puck over all the time in pretty bad spots. Get what you can while you can for the guy.

- lumlums

I think if Drouin is moving he'll be moved as a package for a franchise player. Maybe Drouin + for duchene
- biglove89

Yeah no that aint happening