He was a total female dog, no doubt goaded on by his agent, who he should fire this summer....but I'm with Mitch, he was probably this good. He started the season off very well. I'm not sure a dozen+ AHL games miraculously turned his game around. The narrative probably is "it lit a fire under him"...could very well be true, but it is also possible that Cooper and Yzerman actually were unfair to him...
- Mononoke

Without being in the rooms/phone calls that took place plenty we'll never know all that happened.

But for some players they need this to know just because they maybe a very talented player doesn't mean they'll be given anything especially at this level.

Drouin: what a spoiled, entitled, worthless bust.
- Tomahawk

what'd he do now

I don't know he'd be in the AHL even if Stamkos didn't get hurt........You never know what they would do to spark the team or to give themselves even more skill and scoring this time of year.

It certainly benefited him that those events happened but to say he wouldn't have been put in the lineup again without that can't be discounted either,
- ob18

Fair enough. That was one deep deep rift though. I'm just glad they kissed and made up...whole situation bothered me.

I just want to know if they make it to the Cup without Stamkos and with Drouin living up to expectations....does Tampa decide to walk from HIM...gonna be interesting.

what'd he do now
- 2Real

Said he is better than, and I quote, "that ginger bearded piece of crap Joe Pavelski."

Fair enough. That was one deep deep rift though. I'm just glad they kissed and made up...whole situation bothered me.

I just want to know if they make it to the Cup without Stamkos and with Drouin living up to expectations....does Tampa decide to walk from HIM...gonna be interesting.
- Mononoke

Well how much would you be okay in signing him for? If he wants say $12 AAV per would you be okay with that or let him go any use that to extend others on the roster & tap into something in the free agent market?

He looks better now then he ever has
- Marc D

Maybe. I just think he's been given a chance to log big minutes with legit top line talent and now people see how good he is. I don't think sending him to the minors toughened him up or humbled him.

Well how much would you be okay in signing him for? If he wants say $12 AAV per would you be okay with that or let him go any use that to extend others on the roster & tap into something in the free agent market?
- ob18

It sounds like lunacy to some given that he is still an elite player and one of the top goal scorers in the league...but do they even NEED him for that price?

Johnson and Palat make $3.33 mil right now each. Kucherov $711k. Killorn $2.55 mil. Drouin $894k. Hedman $4 mil. All become RFAs and Hedman a UFA this summer or next. Sheesh they only make $14.8 mil combined! That is going to skyrocket, and maybe paying Stamkos $11-12 mil would gut them going forward....and those are players you want to sign long term. Hedman is going to demand $8-9 mil alone probably. And he is worth it a lot more I think.

Well how much would you be okay in signing him for? If he wants say $12 AAV per would you be okay with that or let him go any use that to extend others on the roster & tap into something in the free agent market?
- ob18

My focus would be locking up Hedman over Stamkos

It sounds like lunacy to some given that he is still an elite player and one of the top goal scorers in the league...but do they even NEED him for that price? Do they need him at all?

Johnson and Palat make $3.33 mil right now each. Kucherov $711k. Killorn $2.55 mil. Drouin $894k. Hedman $4 mil. All become RFAs and Hedman a UFA this summer or next. Sheesh they only make $14.8 mil combined! That is going to skyrocket, and maybe paying Stamkos $11-12 mil would gut them going forward....and those are players you want to sign long term. Hedman is going to demand $8-9 mil alone probably. And he is worth it a lot more I think.
- Mononoke

If I am them I'd like to keep him but not at the expense of losing all that talent.

My focus would be locking up Hedman over Stamkos
- Fryman4

Mine as well.

If I am them I'd like to keep him but not at the expense of losing all that talent.
- ob18

Keeping all of them makes a better team than one star with declining stats who has injury issues, good as he is. You could argue Kucherov alone makes up for Stamkos offensively.

Keeping all of them makes a better team than one star with declining stats who has injury issues, good as he is. You could argue Kucherov alone makes up for Stamkos offensively.
- Mononoke

I think they'll let him walk (or trade him just before free agency) and be better off for it

Both Giroux and Ghost getting hip and abdominal surgeries. Out 10-12 weeks

I think they'll let him walk (or trade him just before free agency) and be better off for it
- PhillySportsGuy

And then he will be ours....all OURS!

Both Giroux and Ghost getting hip and abdominal surgeries. Out 10-12 weeks
- PhillySportsGuy

Might as well do Voracek and Read while they're at it

Might as well do Voracek and Read while they're at it
- Dkos

I bet Voracek's broken foot doesn't even need to be operated on! #Leaderpoop

Both Giroux and Ghost getting hip and abdominal surgeries. Out 10-12 weeks
- PhillySportsGuy

Then we will all witness THE ULTIMATE HUMAN HOCKEY CENTIPEDE SCORING ALL THE GOAALZZZ!!!1!1!!

Both Giroux and Ghost getting hip and abdominal surgeries. Out 10-12 weeks
- PhillySportsGuy

This is the first I've heard on any injuries since the season ended. Anybody else hear anything?

Both Giroux and Ghost getting hip and abdominal surgeries. Out 10-12 weeks
- PhillySportsGuy

They bonded so well as teammates they are having the same exact right hip/abdominal surgery.....

G was so obviously injured. I didn't think Ghost himself played poorly at the tail end of the year...he didn't quite have his usual jump though. That one is a bit more surprising. Benn played like a monster late last year and did it despite needing hip surgery, so everyone is affected differently of course. Oh well. Rest up boyos.

Not sure if this was posted already, but I found it to be interesting and detail oriented...

http://highlandparkhockey...does-robert-hagg.html?m=1

I don't believe for one second, Yzerman or Cooper ever doubted Drouin talent and ability.

They bonded so well as teammates they are having the same exact right hip/abdominal surgery.....

G was so obviously injured. I didn't think Ghost himself played poorly at the tail end of the year...he didn't quite have his usual jump though. That one is a bit more surprising. Benn played like a monster late last year and did it despite needing hip surgery, so everyone is affected differently of course. Oh well. Rest up boyos.
- Mononoke

Looking back on the season it did appear ghost didn't have quite the quickness to get up to speed. It was a lot more noticeable with G. 3rd and 4th lines need a make over. Like to see Laughton stay at lw and let him play through his mistakes. They don't have a lot of forwards who can come down the wing and snap one over the shoulder of the goalie.

Both Giroux and Ghost getting hip and abdominal surgeries. Out 10-12 weeks
- PhillySportsGuy

Just read that. Both were taking a beating.

I don't believe for one second, Yzerman or Cooper ever doubted Drouin talent and ability.
- MJL

I doubted but I'm only a casual fan who relied on stats to paint me a picture. I just think his agent has his ear and the kid feels entitled. Drouin is definitely earning his keep at the right time.

Maybe. I just think he's been given a chance to log big minutes with legit top line talent and now people see how good he is. I don't think sending him to the minors toughened him up or humbled him.
- PhillySportsGuy

light a fire?