Is this is a joke? Drouin has no choice? I missed the part where someone forced him to play a game and have a better life than 99% of the people on this planet as a result.

He doesn't have to play in the NHL if he doesn't like it, I hear Russia's offering plenty of ice time.

So weird he didn't blow away management with a whopping 3 points in his last 7 AHL games.

This is the most punk that this blog has ever been.

Tanner is a product of our University system that teaches victimhood and zero accountability. I guess you could throw in class warfare too. (see eye roll)

Nobody is putting a gun to Drouin's head forcing him to sign a contract. That was his choice. Nobody put a gun to Drouin's head forcing him to join the NHL. (Play in the KHL for all I care). That was his choice. Rules are in place, and those rules are known. Period. Don't have to like them, may actually hate them. Don't sign a contract then. He's an impressionable 20 year old kid that followed horrible advice. His agent may have cost his client millions (which in retrospect, Tanner would probably cheer).

So weird he didn't blow away management with a whopping 3 points in his last 7 AHL games.
- SameOld

They do play in a free market right? The KHL offers tax free contracts right? So they are not forced to go to the NHL. Again, just baiting.
- tomburton99

sort of. the north american hockey market if nowhere near a free market for players.

It's interesting that a group of what i think are extreme capitalists (nhl owners) have created an extremely socialist system for paying their employees.

going to russia is an option, but really, would you want to move to russia?

Yzerman's only mistake was not drafting Seth Jones instead.

You claim you aren't judging the Lightning's owner and then spend much of your rambling post judging him. Go back and read what you wrote with an objective eye and you'll see what I mean.

Further, I think the word you were looking for was "past", as in at age 26 he would be past his prime, not "passed". Which is a far fetched statement regardless, improper word usage notwithstanding.

Also, lose the goofy videos which I assume you include to try to prove your points.

Yes, you're right ... you got the reaction you wanted ... hits.

I may have missed it, but I didn't see much mention of Drouin's agent's role in this, an agent who has a history of confrontation with teams. I certainly hope you don't think Walsh is an innocent bystander in all this. No need to answer, it really doesn't matter.
- Hofmeister

Damn, an error with a homophone? Unforgivable.

This post is click-bait, designed to provoke and drive traffic.

It doesn't matter what Tanner or anyone else thinks-there is a collective bargaining agreement in place, and by signing a contract, he is agreeing to live within the parameters of the CBA.

If Drouin doesn't like this, he didn't have to sign his contract.

Tanner's personal opinions on rich, successful people has zero bearing on Drouin's rights under the CBA.

And to question Yzerman for suspending Drouin is ridiculous...like Drouin should be paid for holding out.

Tanner is a product of our University system that teaches victimhood and zero accountability. I guess you could throw in class warfare too. (see eye roll)

Nobody is putting a gun to Drouin's head forcing him to sign a contract. That was his choice. Nobody put a gun to Drouin's head forcing him to join the NHL. (Play in the KHL for all I care). That was his choice. Rules are in place, and those rules are known. Period. Don't have to like them, may actually hate them. Don't sign a contract then. He's an impressionable 20 year old kid that followed horrible advice. His agent may have cost his client millions (which in retrospect, Tanner would probably cheer).
- quackup

In a country where people are set to nominate Trump for President, I don't think getting an education is the problem here. Right or wrong, people should be allowed to think outside of the prescribed options without being accused of doing it just to do it.

That is a dangerous way to treat ideas.

sort of. the north american hockey market if nowhere near a free market for players.

It's interesting that a group of what i think are extreme capitalists (nhl owners) have created an extremely socialist system for paying their employees.

going to russia is an option, but really, would you want to move to russia?
- Tumbleweed

Obviously not. This more than about money. But there are other Leagues Drouin can go to. SHL, Swiss league, Czech league, KHL, Liiga. Auston Matthews is the Swiss league now so he can make money and go to the AHL if need be once he's drafted. Could Drouin not have done that?

Is this is a joke? Drouin has no choice? I missed the part where someone forced him to play a game and have a better life than 99% of the people on this planet as a result.

He doesn't have to play in the NHL if he doesn't like it, I hear Russia's offering plenty of ice time.
- Tweek

But he doesn't like what's happening. He's being proactive and taking initiative to try and put himself in a better career position.

The right thing to for Drouin to do is whatever he thinks his best for him to get the things that he wants most. He obviously feels not playing is a better solution for him personally than playing in the ahl. I'm not sure why this is so offensive.

I'm not entirely sure why so many seem to think they know what is best for Drouin.

In a country where people are set to nominate Trump for President, I don't think getting an education is the problem here. Right or wrong, people should be allowed to think outside of the prescribed options without being accused of doing it just to do it.

That is a dangerous way to treat ideas.
- James_Tanner

Let's just stick to Drouin/hockey this time. Trump won't make it to President anyway. Your ideas are cool even if not everyone agrees with them. There, feel better?

In a country where people are set to nominate Trump for President, I don't think getting an education is the problem here. Right or wrong, people should be allowed to think outside of the prescribed options without being accused of doing it just to do it.

That is a dangerous way to treat ideas.
- James_Tanner

It's not about thinking outside of the prescribed options it is about earning something. Drouin has not earned the right to demand anything. You don't earn that right by being drafted 3rd overall. If Drouin wants something, trade or top 6 minutes, he has to go out and earn that. The problem is people in this country want to be handed everything and it is now in professional sports where guys make tons of money playing games they love for our enjoyment. Drouin is 100% at fault for not playing well and earning his spot and he is 100% at fault for hiring his agent and allowing his agent to do what he is doing.

But he doesn't like what's happening. He's being proactive and taking initiative to try and put himself in a better career position.

The right thing to for Drouin to do is whatever he thinks his best for him to get the things that he wants most. He obviously feels not playing is a better solution for him personally than playing in the ahl. I'm not sure why this is so offensive.

I'm not entirely sure why so many seem to think they know what is best for Drouin.
- Tumbleweed

Exactly. I am not even saying his decision was the right one, just that people shouldn't be so judgmental.

In a country where people are set to nominate Trump for President, I don't think getting an education is the problem here. Right or wrong, people should be allowed to think outside of the prescribed options without being accused of doing it just to do it.

That is a dangerous way to treat ideas.
- James_Tanner

So you just generalized a group of people want to vote for somebody, but then will get offended when a group of people don't like what you write about Jonathan Drouin, the QMJHL all star.

I can understand some of the points that you make James, but I respectfully disagree, and here's why:

1) No matter what, no matter the talent or the kid or the agent or the phase of the moon, playing in the NHL is a privilege, not a right.

2) He did sign a two-way contract. Despite him earning less than his NHL level 925k P/Y, he was still set to make 70K per year at AHL level (and he's already collected a big portion at NHL level prior); that's not a bad salary for a kid of his age.

3) In almost every situation in life, there's a period over which one must prove themselves. When I started grad school I was told right then and there that I was PhD level, however still had to spend ~5 years earning less than the poverty line to put in the work necessary to EARN the degree. The fact that I gave up a job paying me six figures to do this had no bearing whatsoever on the fact that I still had to meet all requirements for that privilege. Drouin is in the same situation; he has to EARN the right to call himself an NHLer, and neither him not his agent are the one's who make that call at this moment.

My advice to JD, for what it's worth, is to respect the process, however flawed it may appear, and knuckle down to earn his spot. Oh, and fire that (frank)ing rat of an agent as well, surely there's better out there...?

Exactly. I am not even saying his decision was the right one, just that people shouldn't be so judgmental.
- James_Tanner

okay

Obviously not. This more than about money. But there are other Leagues Drouin can go to. SHL, Swiss league, Czech league, KHL, Liiga. Auston Matthews is the Swiss league now so he can make money and go to the AHL if need be once he's drafted. Could Drouin not have done that?
- tomburton99

i think the a probably some legal hurdles in place to him going to many of these leagues now that he has signed an nhl contract ... but i don't know for sure.

my guess is what he wants most is to play in the nhl. Probably both as a personal goal and to maximize is upcoming contracts.

personally, i think auston mathews made one of the best career decisions a young player has made in a long-time. Gets paid well, lives is a country with a high standard of living, easy travel schedule, avoids the chl contract trap etc. But different topic, and not a parallel to what drouin could do now.

i think the a probably some legal hurdles in place to him going to many of these leagues now that he has signed an nhl contract ... but i don't know for sure.

my guess is what he wants most is to play in the nhl. Probably both as a personal goal and to maximize is upcoming contracts.

personally, i think auston mathews made one of the best career decisions a young player has made in a long-time. Gets paid well, lives is a country with a high standard of living, easy travel schedule, avoids the chl contract trap etc. But different topic, and not a parallel to what drouin could do now.
- Tumbleweed

Not parallel at all, I know that. And you're right. For Drouin to go play in another league, he, his leagal team and the Lightning would have to agree to terminate his contract. Of Course he wants to play in the NHL. So I give him this option. If he feels he's been deceived by Yzerman at the end of ELC he needs to holdout. Train on his own time stay in shape. Force Yzerman to trade his right. He has options.

My problem isn't with Drouin. It's with Tanner making him a martyr and an NHL all star with zero factual evidence behind any of it.

Now Yzerman is saying no deal was ever imminent, which I think is completely BS.

Let's get to the main reason Drouin doesn't want to play in the AHL

1) Bus travel
2) Accommodations aren't as swanky as NHL
3) Girls don't like Motel 6's
4) The other kids make fun of him and call him "Hot Shot"

James Tanner: Why I Support Jonathan Drouin
- James_Tanner

This blog looks awfully similar to an article on yahoo sports saying football players don't make enough because of the limitations imposed on the draft and entry level contacts and then are susceptible to retire with nagging injuries or have their careers prematurely end.

Bottom line , entry level contracts seem to be a norm in the industry called professional sports , if it's a problem then Drouins agent should of pointed this out . Also with how Drouin has been playing I kinda sorta maybe understand why Stevee Y did what he did and validates that move.

As someone mentioned , no one forced Drouin to sign or play for the lightning initially.