Michael Stuart: Making the Case for Jonathan Drouin's Potential

I have been following Drouin since before he was draft. He has the potential to be an unreal player in this league. He just needs a little time to adjust to the pro style game, and he will.

I have to admit his progression was mishandled this season. Starting on a forth line role didn't help, then being scratched, the whole 'disagreement' between coach and player, and now all of the trade rumors. It could have been a smoother transition, and I don't blame him for questioning Cooper. Every kid wants to know when they get a shot.

Don't worry Tampa fans, you have a future superstar on your hands. Just be patient.

Just trade him to MTL for Scherbak, Tinordi and a 1st and lets all go on with our lives...

I like this kid. He is going to do great things. With that said, keep him away from the Habs. I dont want to hate him.

Just trade him to MTL for Scherbak, Tinordi and a 1st and lets all go on with our lives...
- Habs-Sam

Sounds like a huge price to pay for the kid but he'd fit in Mtl like a glove.

Just trade him to MTL for Scherbak, Tinordi and a 1st and lets all go on with our lives...
- Habs-Sam

That's and interesting trade offer, let me mullet it over.

Surprised to learn his most common linemate was Paquette. That truly caught me by surprise as I would have guessed Boyle. Either way good piece and as is already known I completely agree

I really hope he gets a long extended look with Stamkos and Killorn this season... that line has the recipe for gross production if you sprinkle in some chili powder.

That's and interesting trade offer, let me mullet it over.
- KOGGS

I really hope he gets a long extended look with Stamkos and Killorn this season... that line has the recipe for gross production if you sprinkle in some chili powder.
- j.boyd919

More likely he'll be with Stamkos and Callahan.

I am optimistic about JD. But the philosophy worked for Kuch so it should work for him.

Surprised to learn his most common linemate was Paquette. That truly caught me by surprise as I would have guessed Boyle. Either way good piece and as is already known I completely agree
- uf1910

Interestingly enough, he actually played more at 5v5 with Stamkos than Boyle per HockeyAnalysis.

Thank you Michael, some of us have been saying this for awhile. Let the kid develop.

More likely he'll be with Stamkos and Callahan.
- Artyukhin76

I prefer Killorn to Callahan. Cally is a glorified, overpaid 3rd liner. Killer showed his worth in the playoffs and why he belongs with Stammer.

Interestingly enough, he actually played more at 5v5 with Stamkos than Boyle per HockeyAnalysis.
- Michael_Stuart

Honestly didn't put any thought into it, simply was a reflection of memory which I freely admit is not very good. Looking back now it makes complete sense. He had the short stint (few games) fixed on Stammer's line when we had the injuries and then the late game shifts. But obviously his "normal" line was w/ Boyle/Morrow but when you're getting +/- 10 min/gm it's hard to accumulate significant TOI numbers. Similarly playing isolated shifts with Stammer makes it hard to develop chemistry and consistency which given the TOI w/ linemates goes even further to explain his inconsistency last year.

I prefer Killorn to Callahan. Cally is a glorified, overpaid 3rd liner. Killer showed his worth in the playoffs and why he belongs with Stammer.
- j.boyd919

I don't necessarily disagree with you in regards to Killorn, however both Killer and Drouin are LW's so one would be playing out of position

I prefer Killorn to Callahan. Cally is a glorified, overpaid 3rd liner. Killer showed his worth in the playoffs and why he belongs with Stammer.
- j.boyd919

We will see, but I can't imagine them paying $10.8 million for two players on the third line.

I don't necessarily disagree with you in regards to Killorn, however both Killer and Drouin are LW's so one would be playing out of position
- uf1910

Killorn is generally listed as a center, but has played both the left wing and the right wing before.

We will see, but I can't imagine them paying $10.8 million for two players on the third line.
- Artyukhin76

Why not? Is there some kind of rule where the money on a line can't be over a certain limit?

Why not? Is there some kind of rule where the money on a line can't be over a certain limit?
- j.boyd919

You already know the answer to that. Alex killorn is most likely going to be our salary cap era victim. Ryan Callahan was signed to play topline minutes.

More likely than not Alex killorn and Valteri Filppula will be gone next off-season and replaced by Adam Erne and Vladislav Namestnikov.

2016-2017 Lightning
Drouin 3.5 Stamkos 10 Callahan 5.8
Palat 3.34 Johnson 3.34 Kucherov 5
Erne .865 Namestnikov 1.5 Marchessault 1
Paquette 1 Boyle 2 Condra 1.25
Brown 1

39.575

Hedman 4 Stralman 4.5
Garrison 4.6 Sustr 1.45
Carle 5.5 Nesterov 1.5
Koekkoek 1.44

21.49

Bishop 5.95
Vasilevskiy 1.475

7.425

68.49

You already know the answer to that. Alex killorn is most likely going to be our salary cap era victim. Ryan Callahan was signed to play topline minutes.

More likely than not Alex killorn and Valteri Filppula will be gone next off-season and replaced by Adam Erne and Vladislav Namestnikov. Vasilevskiy is going to take over for bishop just fine. Namestnikov hopefully could replace filp as the shutdown center. Nesterov, Koekkoek, and deangelo in line for the D... there is absolutely no reason to let killorn or any of the young guns walk.

2016-2017 Lightning
Drouin 3.5 Stamkos 10 Callahan 5.8
Palat 3.34 Johnson 3.34 Kucherov 5
Erne .865 Namestnikov 1.5 Marchessault 1
Paquette 1 Boyle 2 Condra 1.25
Brown 1

39.575

Hedman 4 Stralman 4.5
Garrison 4.6 Sustr 1.45
Carle 5.5 Nesterov 1.5
Koekkoek 1.44

21.49

Bishop 5.95
Vasilevskiy 1.475

7.425

68.49
- Artyukhin76

Huh? Why would the cap casualty be the younger better version of an aging bad contract that is on the roster? I see Stevie Y moving garrison, carle, callahan, and bishop before any of the young guys.

You already know the answer to that. Alex killorn is most likely going to be our salary cap era victim. Ryan Callahan was signed to play topline minutes.

More likely than not Alex killorn and Valteri Filppula will be gone next off-season and replaced by Adam Erne and Vladislav Namestnikov.

2016-2017 Lightning
Drouin 3.5 Stamkos 10 Callahan 5.8
Palat 3.34 Johnson 3.34 Kucherov 5
Erne .865 Namestnikov 1.5 Marchessault 1
Paquette 1 Boyle 2 Condra 1.25
Brown 1

39.575

Hedman 4 Stralman 4.5
Garrison 4.6 Sustr 1.45
Carle 5.5 Nesterov 1.5
Koekkoek 1.44

21.49

Bishop 5.95
Vasilevskiy 1.475

7.425

68.49
- Artyukhin76

Huh? Why would the cap casualty be the younger better version of an aging bad contract that is on the roster? I see Stevie Y moving garrison, carle, callahan, and bishop before any of the young guys. Vasilevskiy is going to take over for bishop just fine. Namestnikov hopefully could replace filp as the shutdown center. Nesterov, Koekkoek, and deangelo in line for the D... there is absolutely no reason to let killorn or any of the young guns walk.

Huh? Why would the cap casualty be the younger better version of an aging bad contract that is on the roster? I see Stevie Y moving garrison, carle, callahan, and bishop before any of the young guys.
- j.boyd919

I don't see Callahan being movable in the short term, which is the problem here. I agree with the rest. Still think Killorn could be a cap casualty with Erne on the way.

Huh? Why would the cap casualty be the younger better version of an aging bad contract that is on the roster? I see Stevie Y moving garrison, carle, callahan, and bishop before any of the young guys.
- j.boyd919

Callahan and Carle (Carle also sucks ass and nobody would want him) have NMC, Bishop most likely will play out his contract and I don't see a market for Garrison.

I would seriously love J.D in jersey so much that I would give up our first and a little more ( our first should be top five if not too three ).

I don't think a trade like that would be to horrible, you guys have lots of guys who are ready now but your team is also primed to win a lot and cracking the line up won't be easy so in this trade you guys get another potential top pick that's further away and we get a player picked I. The same area who is now NHL ready. What do you think and what would it cost I know you have said you believe it unlikely so I'm just kind of asking your opinion on a trade like that ?