Drouin for Loochick!
- NewfieStud

Drouin for nobody because he's staying to play on the 1st line with Steven stamkos

Let's just say the deal goes down: Druin for 3rd overall, which would mean ARZ believes Drouin is better than Hannefin/Strome/Marner/etc. If I am TB, do I keep the pick? I think not. There are enough teams wanting to trade into that spot, and TB has enough talent that they don't need to be in that spot. So, they could trade back, really anywhere in the top 10, pick up another pick or prospect and be as an organization further ahead than they were before Drouin. The top 10-12 players this year include a number of high-end talented wingers, so likely not much of an actual drop-off from Drouin. Again, not saying Drouin will be dealt, just playing "what if" games...Yzerman seems to be quite savvy and I would definitely not put something like this as a definite "not happening" scenario.

Why does ARZ not move back/etc? Basically, they need the top end talent that a #3-5 overall pick could bring. So, they kinda have to stay where they are (within say the top 5) given their needs. If they value Drouin this highly, it is a win-win scenario.

Any of you guys see this:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/m_news.htm?id=771540

Brett Connolly falls out of the first round, while Radko Gudas just sneaks in at number 30.

TOR:
J.Drouin
28th overall

TPA
P.Kessel

also happy to eat a contract if that helps.

TOR:
J.Drouin
28th overall

TPA
P.Kessel

also happy to eat a contract if that helps.
- Holy_Makinaw99

No chance. That's a horrid deal for TB.

Any of you guys see this:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/m_news.htm?id=771540

Brett Connolly falls out of the first round, while Radko Gudas just sneaks in at number 30.
- Artyukhin76

Yeah. That's... interesting. Gudas isn't good.

Yeah. That's... interesting. Gudas isn't good.
- Michael_Stuart

Neither was Connolly. Both may excel on their new teams.

Neither was Connolly. Both may excel on their new teams.
- Artyukhin76

Connolly is infinitely more effective than Gudas.

Connolly is infinitely more effective than Gudas.
- Michael_Stuart

Is that why they both got traded? Conolly wasn't fitting in our top two lines and Gudas was no good to us with a bum knee.

No chance. That's a horrid deal for TB.
- Michael_Stuart

Only because they can't afford it............

Clearly there is an issue with Drouin that TB isn't talking about, for good reason. I say stay away from him!!

On the flip side, TB is much better off with a high profile D man coming into the fold than another scorer............already being a high scoring team!

Is that why they both got traded? Conolly wasn't fitting in our top two lines and Gudas was no good to us with a bum knee.
- Artyukhin76

The Connolly deal still makes no sense for a contending team.

Only because they can't afford it............

Clearly there is an issue with Drouin that TB isn't talking about, for good reason. I say stay away from him!!

On the flip side, TB is much better off with a high profile D man coming into the fold than another scorer............already being a high scoring team!
- Bullot

And Phil the thrill is only marginally better than Ovechkin want to comes to backchecking. Pass, epically pass!

The Connolly deal still makes no sense for a contending team.
- Michael_Stuart

It's the same reason that Dustin Tokarski got moved, he's a good player but things were not working out for him here. It was a lateral move for Brett Connolly's benefit.

Connolly v. Gudas= it's a tie, they both lose. Good riddance to both (with some sadness on Gudas for his rough and tumble game... but nothing more).

As for moving Drouin: well, he's a good player. And I certainly could see him playing well on Stammer's wing next season... buuuuuut... if we get the #3 overall, and there's a good flip for a young D-man (including maybe taking Carle? Please?) then I'm fine with it.

But at this rate, it's just a rumour.

It's the same reason that Dustin Tokarski got moved, he's a good player but things were not working out for him here. It was a lateral move for Brett Connolly's benefit.
- Artyukhin76

Tokarski wasn't performing in the NHL like Connolly. Connolly was playing just fine when dealt.

It's the same reason that Dustin Tokarski got moved, he's a good player but things were not working out for him here. It was a lateral move for Brett Connolly's benefit.
- Artyukhin76

Tokarski...Tokarski... ohhhh yeah! That guy!

Sorry, I just kept thinking about Vasy.

Connolly v. Gudas= it's a tie, they both lose. Good riddance to both (with some sadness on Gudas for his rough and tumble game... but nothing more).

As for moving Drouin: well, he's a good player. And I certainly could see him playing well on Stammer's wing next season... buuuuuut... if we get the #3 overall, and there's a good flip for a young D-man (including maybe taking Carle? Please?) then I'm fine with it.

But at this rate, it's just a rumour.
- OzBolts

Unfounded rumor at that. But this bantering is still fun!

Tokarski wasn't performing in the NHL like Connolly. Connolly was playing just fine when dealt.
- Michael_Stuart

Because Tokarski had nowhere to go. Like Connolly, being stuck on the bottom six was equal to Tokarski being in the AHL. Look at Tic now!

Unfounded rumor at that. But this bantering is still fun!
- Artyukhin76

It really is!

It's weird this year though... I'm used to a month or two of "silly season", not a week and change. My rumour mongering and shift disturbing is all off kilter with such a short time between us being out of contention and the Draft/Free Agency.

Because Tokarski had nowhere to go. Like Connolly, being stuck on the bottom six was equal to Tokarski being in the AHL. Look at Tic now!
- Artyukhin76

Not at all. He was performing well.

Not at all. He was performing well.
- Michael_Stuart

He was okay. His possession stats weren't bad, AFAIK, but there was always something about his game that said to me "this is the wrong team for this kid". That's all eye test stuff, and completely subjective, I suppose, but could never shake the feeling he'd do better on a team like NJ or...shock... Boston.

Not at all. He was performing well.
- Michael_Stuart

My point being is that Conolly wasn't going to get into the top six and Tokarski wasn't even going to get into the backup role. So, for their benefit Yzerman move them to other teams. Both players were stuck spinning their wheels and not able to advance because of the depth that the lightning have.

Is that why they both got traded? Conolly wasn't fitting in our top two lines and Gudas was no good.
- Artyukhin76

Fixed