When Steve Yzerman played for Detroit Red Wings, particularly in the second half of his career, he often sensed what his team needed most from him. Sometimes it was a blocked shot or a faceoff win. Sometimes his presence alone was key. He always seemed to know what to do or say.
As the Tampa Bay Lightning general manager, he has displayed the same super-hero sense.
Jonathan Drouin’s three-assist performance in Tampa Bay’s 3-2 victory against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday is a testament to Yzerman’s handling of the messy Drouin soap opera.
Earlier in the season, Drouin asked to be traded. He was demoted to Tampa Bay’s American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse. When he wasn’t traded immediately, Drouin didn't report to a game. Drouin hoped it would prompt Yzerman to act, either recalling him or trading him. Instead, he was suspended.
Yzerman didn’t blink as a player. And now he doesn’t blink as a general manager. He said he would consider trading Drouin, but only if he could make a deal that was advantageous to his team. But when the trade deadline passed, Drouin was still part of the Lightning organization.
Once Drouin’s situation became public, Yzerman was not dealing from a position of strength. Drouin, 21, has another season left on his entry level contract and is three years removed from being the No. 3 overall pick in the NHL draft. Interest was high. But no one was going to force Yzerman to act.
With Steven Stamkos injured, there was a need for another dynamic offensive player in the Lightning’s top six. After Drouin chose to return to Syracuse, he started to play at the level the Lightning had hoped he would achieve. He looks like a game-changer. And with Stamkos an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Drouin could become even more important. He has hands that could eventually make him a top-10 point producer.
Although the Drouin situation escalated beyond a playing time issue, it’s really always been about the two sides disagreeing on where he was developmentally.
“The one thing that gets missed in all of this – we never ever gave up on Jonathan,” said Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “He’s a young kid and he’s finding his way in pro hockey. I’ve said numerous times, he had a feeling, or whatever it was, and he made a decision and stuck to it. You have to give him credit. He took a stand. We can debate whether it was right or wrong, but the way it turned out ... he came back and made a choice to succeed.”
At Syracuse, Drouin had 11 goals in 17 games.
“There was no gratuitous call-up,” Cooper said. “He earned his way back. Now, he’s helping us win hockey games. We knew all the way that he could. I’m just unbelievably proud. He deserves this.
Drouin looks far more comfortable now than before his demotion to the AHL.
“I’m not really thinking about what happened before,” Drouin said. “I’m past that point. I’m just playing hockey. Definitely feels really good. I don’t think it’s surreal. I’m happy to be back here helping the team.”
Drouin and the Lightning deserve credit for making it work now.
"All Jonathan needed was an opportunity to show what he can do," said his agent, Allan Walsh. "What people are seeing now is Jonathan Drouin firing on all cylinders. Other than that, now is the time to play hockey. The focus is on the ice. Nothing else matters to Jon right now except winning hockey games."
His teammates are happy to have him back. “When he gets his motor running and his feet going, it’s pretty magical to watch,” forward Tyler Johnson said.
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