In this edition of the hotstove we discuss whether or not the Tampa Bay Lightning should have sent down Jonathan Drouin.
Todd Cordell
I don't see how sending Drouin to the AHL helps the Lightning.
Even with Drouin's so called struggles he still ranks 2nd on the Bolts in 5v5 points/60 this season and sits ahead of Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos et all in that regard. He hasn't been an anchor in possession, either.
I just don't think a team struggling to score should rid themselves of one of their most productive even-strength contributors and arguably the most creative offensive talent on the team.
Matt Henderson
This Drouin thing is getting totally out of hand. The kid is 2nd on the Lightning in 5v5 Points/60 and has never been given much of a chance by the team. No, he shouldnt be in the AHL. He should be playing 17 minutes a night in the top 6. You have to think now that the relationship between the player and the club are all but destroyed. I think Tampa should be looking to trade the kid, but they are almost assuredly going to lose the trade.
Jason Lewis Short Answer: No. Absolutely not.
Long Answer: Ugh. The whole handling of Drouin has been strange for Tampa Bay. When he has played he has been one of the most productive players from a rate statistics standpoint. Right up there in the top 50 in the league. Obviously that would adjust as his average ice time goes up, but still, he has proven capable of staying above water in possession while also providing fairly steady scoring. There seems to be a top-6 minutes or bust feel with him, so if he is not playing those minutes they are sending him down. There are a glut of bottom 6 guys with Tampa who are "Earning their minutes" via analytics or traditionals which is making life difficult on Cooper. J.T. Brown, Marchessault, Paquette, Condra, Namestnikov, etc. etc. are all doing well enough to stay in the lineup, but none of them have waiver exemption. Drouin, unfortunately, does. Thus he is the odd man out. Deep teams run into this problem and sometimes the feeling is you have to send good players down in order not to lose anyone. Kings have had this issue with Weal and Mersch.
But bottom line though is we are talking about the former 3rd overall pick. If you lost someone like Marchessault or Brown on waivers to make room for Drouin, a potential top 3-6 forward, that's a risk I'd take. Especially with my team sitting 11th in the conference standings and 9th in goal scoring. The bottom 6 has not been an issue for Tampa, but the Top 6 has. Drouin could help that at the risk of slightly weakening the bottom lines. I understand WHY they sent him to the AHL, but I certainly do not agree with it. You are really risking putting a splinter in the mind of a young upstart forward in favor of keeping a plethora of bottom 6 forwards in the NHL and on your roster. Heck, at this point I'd be attempting to move Callahan to the first taker before demoting Drouin. Tough situation.
James Tanner
No, they probably should just give him more ice time in the NHL. I would be looking to trade for him if I was any other team.
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