Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin requested a trade, plus updates on Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kerby Rychel and Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen.
Drouin camp seeks a trade.
There could be considerable interest in Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin.
THE TAMPA TRIBUNE/TAMPA BAY TIMES: Erik Erlendsson reports agent Allan Walsh, who represents Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin, released a statement Sunday claiming he requested a trade back in November on behalf of his client. Walsh believes it’s in everyone’s best interest if Drouin was dealt to another NHL team. Lightning GM Steve Yzerman responded by acknowledging the trade request was made in November, adding he intends to do what’s in the best interest of his club. For now, Drouin will report to the club’s AHL affiliate in Syracuse.
Joe Smith notes Drouin, who’s in the second season of his entry-level contract, has little leverage, though Walsh’s statement could stir up potential suitors. He suggests Toronto, Nashville, Buffalo and St. Louis as possible trade partners, noting Yzerman and assistant GM Pat Verbeek scouted a couple of recent Blues games. Smith feels the Lightning need a defenseman with a right-handed shot, observing the Predators are loaded with blueliners. If a club is also willing to take on blueliner Matt Carle’s $5.5 million annual cap hit, that could facilitate a trade. It’s been rumored there’s a rift between Drouin and Lightning coach Jon Cooper.
SI.COM: Allan Muir speculates the Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets as clubs which might have interest in Drouin. The Canadiens always seem to be in the mix when a Francophone player is involved while the Rangers could use a shakeup to save their season. Drouin could be a good fit on the rebuilding Canucks but it could cost them one of their promising young players. The Coyotes have the depth in young talent in their system to offer up a package. The Devils need to add scoring and also have prospect depth to draw from, as do the Maple Leafs. The Oilers also have some young roster talent to use as bait, but they’re more in need of blueline help. Ditto the Blue Jackets.
USA TODAY: Jimmy Hascup lists the Leafs, Predators, Canucks, Coyotes, Devils and Blue Jackets as six teams that should trade for Drouin.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jonathan Willis doubts the Oilers, in desperate need of defensive help, will move its best trade assets to add yet another scoring forward. Given Drouin’s potential, however, he feels it’s worthwhile for management to make inquiries.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: John Vogl also noted Drouin’s trade request, pointing out Sabres GM Tim Murray “has made it clear often that he is in the market for young players with NHL experience.”
NHL.COM’s Joe Yerdon took to Twitter yesterday regarding the potential asking price for Drouin: “Looking at the deals for Niederreiter and Turris, you’re basically looking at a roster player and a not-first-round pick.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drouin will be traded, but it’ll be on Yzerman’s timetable. It’s possible he could wait until the NHL Draft in June to find the right deal. There will be lots of interest in the 20-year-old playmaker, who isn’t developing as hoped under Lightning coach Jon Cooper. Having re-signed the latter to an extension, Drouin doesn’t seem to have much of a future in Tampa Bay. The Lightning currently have just over $2 million in cap space, so they can’t afford to take on much salary, unless they can get move some out in the deal or in a separate trade.
Of the clubs listed above, I doubt Yzerman trades Drouin to a division rival like the Canadiens. The Rangers have blueline depth they can draw from to make an offer, but most are under no-trade protection, while those who aren’t (Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Klein) the Rangers likely prefer to keep. Yzerman probably won’t be interested in pending UFAs like Keith Yandle and Dan Boyle.
The last thing the Oilers need is another scoring forward when they so obviously need to bolster their defense and goaltending. The Blue Jackets need blueline help, but I don’t believe they’re interested in Matt Carle and his $5.5 million cap hit through 2017-18 as part of a return for Drouin. There’s also the little matter of Carle’s limited no-trade clause.
The Leafs, Canucks, Coyotes, Sabres and Devils seem the best destinations for Drouin, as they’re all rebuilding clubs in need of scoring depth and possess sufficient organization talent to make a pitch. I’d also add the Ducks, as they’re sorely lacking in scoring depth (especially on left wing) and have the depth in defensemen to interest the Lightning. Again, of course, there’s the issue of freeing up cap space on the Bolts part. I concur with Yerdon’s assessment that it could cost a roster player plus a non-first round pick to land Drouin.
Rychel also made a trade request.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Aaron Portzline reports little-used Blue Jackets winger Kerby Rychel asked for a trade prior to the start of this season, but management has no interest in moving him. Rychel is a point-per-game player in the AHL “and has plenty of sandpaper.” Portzline claims the New York Rangers, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Anaheim, Boston and Detroit have shown interest.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Jackets could land a reliable top-four defenseman, perhaps they’ll consider moving Rychel. For now, however, they’re not under much pressure to do so. Like Drouin, Rychel’s on an entry-level contract. However, he doesn’t have the same value as the Lightning winger.
Cowen faces an uncertain future.
OTTAWA CITIZEN: Ken Warren notes Senators defenseman Jared Cowen was a healthy scratch Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Noting Cowen’s struggles, Warren believes something has to give. However, his annual cap hit of $3.1 million through 2016-17 could make him difficult to move via trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: GM Bryan Murray was reluctant to move Cowen, but his patience could be coming to an end. It wouldn’t be surprising if Murray tries to peddle the young blueliner before the Feb. 29 trade deadline. Indeed, it wouldn’t surprise me if we start hearing more speculation of clubs scouting Cowen in the near future. Perhaps the Blue Jackets could be among them.
RHD the Leafs lack, and a roster player (second pairing rhd) would likely mean a deal involving Gardiner plus…not so sure this is a smart move for a winger. That said either player mentioned would fit the direction the club seems to want to move in.
It looked like a coming out party for Drouin the first month of the season. And I thought he looked strong offensively with the puck in his limited time in the Finals.
That said..the obvious is that it makes no sense to use him in a bottom 6 role and if the coach feels he is not ready for full time top6 …he plays AHL.
The Leafs and Sabres are also Tampas division rivals …
So are the Sens and they sent them Bishop.
Yes, but the Lightning haven’t established an intense playoff rivalry with the Leafs, Sens and Sabres as they have with the Canadiens.
Drouin will wind up in Ottawa. You read it here first.
Sabres need a top 4, left-handed defenseman. Taking Drouin means they would have alotta expiring contracts at one time, with all the young guys coming off ELCs around the same time.
Being a Sens fan (I know you are too because I’ve read your comments before), I wouldn’t mind a deal. A roster player plus a pick so maybe Ceci or Lazar and a 2nd?
However! The Sens are deep on LW. With Prince and Puempel in minors plus Lindberg who can play LW and RW. Prince I think will be very good and is exactly the type of player Drouin already is. I guess a trade could also be Ceci, Prince and a 4th but I’d rather just keep Prince. He looks good.
I think the Preds should take a hard look. They desperately need some young, projectable and skilled forwards. Tampa want a RH Dman so how about Drouin for Ellis plus a 4th maybe makes the most sense as they won’t part with Jones. I wouldn’t mind seeing Ellis in Tampa because I spend a lot of time around there and he’s a personal friend… so that helps lol :P.
If he does it will be a sin. Him and MacKinnon were a force in Junior.
good point I remember that
Agreed especially in a case like this, tough to judge a player when he is diployed in a role that doesnt really suit his skill set, lacking minutes and playing with guys that dont really benefit his talents can make it difficult and moving him down to Syracuse can make it seem like he is failing….tough on Drouin and a little tougher on Tampa to get the value a player like Drouin should typically get.
I don’t see a fit for Drouin with the Leafs who have depth in under-sized left wing prospects, e.g. Liepsic, Johnson, Timashov, and under-sized forwards in general, e.g. Nylander, Marner, Brown, etc.
The Leafs main needs, IMO, are a young top pair D to compliment Rielly, a 1C for the future if Nylander and Marner turn out to be wingers, and obviously quality goaltending.
Ya thats what I was kind of saying in my first post but, if you stock up to the point of having an abundance of top 6 prospects it may be easier to make a move for one of the things we agree on that they need…for instance it may be tought to move a guy like Gardiner for another better D type prospect but it might not be as hard to put together a package of a highend forward prospect and a pick and a roster player for one…so I do agree with you just that I can kinda see the reasoning for it. Tough to say, especially because I think Gardiner has been pretty good this year and is still relatively young as far as D go and while he may not be a top pair guy he is a very good second pair guy.
And also yes I kind of agree Liepsic isnt the biggest guy size is absolutely no issue with him Ive watched quite a few Marlies games recently and he seems to play a lot like Gallagher he is fearless around the net, and having a good season. Especially lately with the guys gone to world jrs…
Fun guy to watch.
I really like all the little guys in the Leafs system I mentioned, especially Nylander, but there’s a thousand Keith Aucoins for every Patrick Kane…
And you’re right about Gardiner, with Babcock speaking to him in short sentences, he seems to have figured out how to play D this year – much improved.
I wish Cameron would take the same approach with Cowen. He has all the attributes of a great D – except functional grey-matter between the ears.
gardiner has improved but the forwards actually playing in there own end under babcock helps gardiner he still has his miscues but less visible with the forwards helping out
Lyle, you take all the fun out of all the trade rumors. First you add practicality, then you finish it off, with “don’t see him being moved until the offseason, when more teams and better options maybe available.” Not you exact words, but you get the point. I do agree that it might be in Tampa’s best interest to wait, maybe move up in the draft with some sort of package, unless they can get what they want before then, because the east is still wide open, lots of teams could still be in the playoff hunt and I think if you get in, you have a chance.
Agree. I’d also say that Drouin’s best move for his career is to play lights-out for the rest of the AHL season. Someone in an earlier article compared Drouin with Nazem Kadri’s history with the Leafs. Kadri finally seems to get it, with lots of help from Mike Babcock, and Drouin would be wise to work at becoming a versatile, all-around player. That would assure him of a long NHL career, wherever it may be.
Off Topic, read a storey in a Toronto newspaper, suggesting that Mike Babcock, should be given consideration for coach of the year. States lots of fancy stats, etc. Also say Barry Trots, Linsay Ruff and Daryl Sutter. Funny how he picks three division leaders and Toronto. Yet he doesn’t mention Gerald Gallant. He mention what everyone expected the leafs to be and they are exceeding that, well then you could also throw Claude Julien into the mix. We have a little more then a half season to go. If Florida stays where they are, then I think its a slam dunk, but if the leafs get in and Florida falters then we’ll see.
If Babcock is given any consideration whatsoever than the NHL awards system is truly a joke. So were going to reward a coach for being 4 points up on last place? asinine!
Imo it should be down to Trotz, Sutter, Gallant and Ruff.
Funny how the Kings have been so good the last 5 years but no one EVER talks about Sutter as coach of the year or to coach Canada internationally.
I agree he probably shouldnt be and ya confused as to why no love for Sytter but the 4 points out of last is kinda misleading, they are also 5 points out of 15th with a game in hand….not sure at the beginning of the year people would have been thinking this roster would be close to the upper part of the league…
In the cases of TB and Ottawa 5 pts back with 2 games in hand….ehh not so sure anyone seen that coming. Since the beginning of Nov one of the better records in the league.
Your right they are overachieving a bit for sure and Babcock deserves praise for that, but there are 26 teams better than the Leafs as of right now. By this logic, why aren’t Peters and Hakstol being mentioned as well?
Both the Flyers and Hurricanes were considered to be just as crappy as the Leafs prior to the start of the season, and have done just as good, if not better to date.
I guess what I am saying is lets give the accolades to the coaches that have really earned it, Babcock is not one of them.
Yep I agree.
Not sure I agree. I mean, looking at that Leafs roster – sans a pure goal-scorer like Kessel – and a porous give-away D and questionable goaltending, I had them slotted for dead last, or maybe 29th back of Arizona. But after the first 10-12 games I’m seeing a vastly different Leafs team that night in – night out is getting the best out of what they have, including the D which, aside from the odd brain-fart here and there (old habits die hard) is playing a solid, careful game, Bozak is showing he doesn’t need Kessel, and a cast of cast-offs continues to give fits to every opponent. All that stems from a system installed by a coach who, unlike Carlyle and Wilson, is proving that his past successes are no fluke. Yeah, they still have a ways to go before he should start to be seriously considered for Coach of the year, but dammit – and this comes grudgingly – the Leafs are suddenly a team no opponent should take lightly.
good points George,
I expected you to rip the suggestion of anything leafs being good lol (but in a realistic way that you do)
Coach + Goalie + a team of nobodies that plays solid defense can will win.
You do not not need stars nor offense. You play defense, as a single entity, with patience and jump on mistakes. I mean it’s the nhl, you can even kick the puck in.
In Nonis, Carlyle + wilsons defense, owners were pushing them to play youngsters (gardiner/reilly) when they were not ready.
As well as, since the quinn era it has been offense + defense systems, which past leafs (ie Kessel) only played offense to win and in Carlyle’s defense he went with it (a win is a win)
Babcock didn’t have too deal with those extra growing pains.
Additionally, more teams are real bad (tanking) then ever before…
I see a deal coming at the deadline. Tampa was in the final last year. Do you all think that missing is going to be that palpable as to hold on to Drouin?
Any team looking at a deep playoff run at the deadline will be looking for blue line depth. Enter Carle.
So…… Gardiner and a bone, or a Lupul and a bigger bone for Drouin and Carle (where Tampa should be eating the cap difference works unless is Lupul). Carle is under contract a shorter period, same time frame as Lupul Leafs have some depth on the back end…. that math works.
Just saying, a deadline deal is not beyond the realm of possibility
What is the depth on the back-end of the Leafs? This is all they have signed for next season: Phaneuf, Hunwick, Rielly, Gardiner.
Polak is going to be traded at the deadline for whatever, hopefully a 2nd.
Marincin, Corrado, Harrington – at best, bottom pair or 7th D options.
If you trade Gardiner, you have a pretty major hole to fill in an already weak group with no real studs in the system.
Im not sure you are not a pinch off with Harington and Marinicin…I believe they are better than that. Just not really any room on that blueline.
Not that either replace Gardiner…but I would take either over Polak and Hunwick, neither of whom have been very impressive. Hunwick in spurts maybe but for every decent game he has 2 or 3 bad ones and Polak is Polak, big tough bottom pair guy nothing to write home about. Good idea for a playoff team but not really a huge need for a rebuilding one.
I don’t know about Corrado because he has only seen very limited action and has made some mistakes playing on his offside in that, but Marincin I’m not a fan of.
There were some advanced stats arguments for him going into this year, but I haven’t seen anything to think he’s better than bottom pair on a bad D.
Polak, we should get our 2nd for maybe + if injuries to that type of D come up around the deadline. Dependability and durability are always at a premier for the playoffs.
I agree dan corrado marincin and Harrington are bottom pair dmen I think we should be drafting or trading for young dmen and young goalies they are hurting in those positions
Zaitsev will step in next year beside Reilly and Marincin will move up to play with Phaneuf. Harrington and Corrado as the third pairing. Depending on how Brennan performs after the deadline, he could be considered a decent third pairing guy
I wonder what kind of advice Kyle Turris would provide Drouin in this situation. He was drafted 3rd and ended up getting traded for a deeper first round pick in Rundblad and a second rounder.
I don’t see anyone taking Cowen. His cap hit may only be 3.1 million but his last contract was structured terribly. He’s making 3.7 this season & next season it jumps to 4.5 million. He is a RFA after that & would need to be qualified at 4.5 to retain his rights. Cowen isn’t a 3 million dollar Dman never mind a 4.5 one.
Good point about qualifying him striker, I didn’t even think about that. Terrible contract for sure.
Who would have ever thought when discussing hockey, players & our fantasy pools that cap issues would play such a significant factor in our discussions. It’s a new world & in this stagnant cap market it is making trading virtually impossible to pull off during playing portion of the season.
Bingo! That, in a nutshell, is why we have grid-lock. Teams are unfortunately stuck with their mistakes when it comes to the cap. As I said some weeks ago, allow a team to say goodbye to a Lecavalier, for example. They’d have to pay him what he’s owed, of course, but don’t apply it against the cap. If players like that are truly interested in playing the game – anywhere in the NHL – they might be able to latch onto some re-building team to help them out to some degree at the NHL minimum or slightly higher and STILL be getting their full pay from the team that dropped them. Why not?
ya kinda like poeeing in public when you have to do it, except for those damn cameras everywhere…you just gotta hold it.
I see Drouin most likely ending up in Ottawa also, but what about Anahiem? They’ve been struggling offensively all year, deep in prospects too..
What Dman does Ottawa have that will help make this trade happen? TB doesn’t need an forwards they have tons & more coming.
Ceci is a young right hand shot. Don’t know if Sens would part with him. But the Sens already have Prince who is built the same and plays the same game. So what’s the point?
Drouin is a LOT faster than Prince
Colorado should be the team pushing hardest to get this guy. They’ve got some cap room to take on Carle as well, and maybe they could use him. MacKinnon and Drouin were dynamite in Halifax. Hell, the league should want that trade.
Ladd-Pavelec to Columbus for Foligno-Calvert-Rychel
not sure why the jackets would be interested in Pavelec at all. They have a defined number 1 and Pavelec has a cap hit of 4 Million or so.
I think both jackets goalies are on the IR and pavs contract is only for one more year after this year.
This situation with Drouin shows immaturity & a premadona attitude. Drouin is essentially 1 dimensional. Cares little about playing a 2 way game & solely wants to be a scoring star. There is no room at the inn for him in that role currently in TB, especially now with Palat back.
Funny how Detroit’s prospects go down & pay the development price demanded by Ken Holland & wait their turns for their opportunities to join the big club. Usually when Detroit has no choice as their waver eligible & they keep their mouths shut.
I don’t see how Allen Welsh see’s going public with Drouin’s request helps his cause. It shows him as selfish & more concerned about his own opportunities than his teams. A trait most NHL teams won’t tolerate.
Not sure Detroit is a good comparison Striker. Since 2000 they have drafted in the 1st round 8 times with the highest pick being in 2014 when they took Larkin 15th – and he’s a regular. Their next highest was last year at # 19 and in 2013 they took Mantha 20th and it seems they’ve soured on him. Everything else range from 21 to 97 and when you’re that far down the list it’s more natural to spend development time in the minors. Drouin was picked 3rd overall and with teams like Arizona, Buffalo, Edmonton, Carolina he’d be a regular. The two picked ahead of him – MacKinnon and Barkov – are both NHL regulars as are 8 of the next 9 picks – Jones, Lindholm, Monahan, Nurse, Ristolainen, Horvat, Nishushkin and Domi.
I am beginning to think that Walsh limits his client’s prospects and irritates the fan base much as Scott Boros does in Baseball. It is reputed that many GM’s won’t have a Boros client — might this becoming true for Walsh. If the agent reinforces the apparrent selfishness looking for a bigger payout, This does not bode well for future contracts and possible disagreements.
There are some players who can’t play for some coaches even if both are high quality. There are also player who wish to leave their situations, for a variety of reasons. But we aren’t hearing from the player or the coach, nor much from the GM. And I think the agent has cost his client some options, as Stevie Y has managed to accomodate folks in the past who wanted to leave, while protecting his team (his job) as well.
Z. Smith 1st line PP time with 2:12. Hoffman 2nd unit PP time on the point with 1:39 & to think Ottawa didn’t score. George what the hell is Cameron thinking?
I really like Murray for the most part but his choice of Cameron confused me from the get go, tough to argue it with what happened last year, but maybe just getting rid of McLean was enough to get them going? Seems like Cameron is kind of using the same approach tho as far as personnel decisions go…
Murray and Melnyk had a deal on the coaches. After Murray’s pick the next one would be Melnyk’s. So when MacLean wore out his welcome with Karl ~ Melnyk’s guy was next and already in system. Which is why we were all left scratching our heads that Richardson didn’t get the nod.
I don’t mind Cameron too much.
They’re wasting Noris trophy seasons from the top D in the game though.
I’m struggling watching the games and seeing the average players take time from the players that can actually make a difference. Prince on the 4th line…??? I have thought the games against Chicago and New Jersey were pretty good defensively. They just ran into a scoring slump. It’s nice not seeing number 2 out there lol. Claesson has looked much better.
I’m asking that question too Striker. Back to back 3-0 shut-outs do tend to raise questions … but my doubts go back a lot farther than those two games. When they are consistently – and I stress CONSISTENTLY – giving up 35-40 shots a game I ask myself where does the fault lay – the D, forwards not coming back to help out – the “system”??? Now, shots per se don’t always tell the full story and I’d love to see some sort of graphic to pinpoint from where the shots are originating. If the perimeter, then I guess it’s not that big a deal … but I somehow doubt that’s the case.
if a team has a winning percentage and gives up 30+ shots on average.
Without looking, they are mainly low quality or PP
The winning record is the key.
Screw analytics
rychel in clb has asked for a trade reports are saying the habs have offered up tinordi not a bad deal both players haven’t played up to what they were projected maybe a change of scenery might help
I think Tinordi is closer to being written off as a bottom pair/7th D than Rychel is to 3rd/4th line. Rychel is putting up a point per game in the AHL and he was drafted three years later.
If CLB are interested in that, the Leafs could send them Percy who was drafted in the same range and is a year ago. Valiev or Loov might even be more enticing.
What do you think about that, Bigbear?
I still think tinordi is one of those dmen that take awhile to come into there own. he reminds me of a better skating hal gill I think he could be a fit in Toronto actually they don’t have that shutdown guy coming up that is a good pk guy! who knows tho percy loov valiev haven’t proved anything like tinordi either
id take him in a heartbeat based on his dads reputation alone.
Funny wonder what the reaction would have been if someone suggested Polak for Rychle or yesterday Streit and Brayden Schenn for Rychle but lets roll out Tinordi again.
lol
Bigbear, show me a top 4 defenseman in the nhl today whose career offensive numbers are as anemic as Tinordi’s. Jarred Cowen is Paul Coffey by comparison. The ceiling on this guy was clear from the age of 19, he’s a 5-6 guy at best. He might have been effective back when his father was in the league but the game has changed.
show me where I said top 4 dman?? rychel has 3 assists this yr must mean he gets a top 4 dman back?? rychel might have been effective when his father was in the league but the game has changed! rychel is at best 3rd liner
Well if you agree his ceiling is a 5-6-7 defenseman then he really doesn’t have much value does he?
what value does rychel have? 5 6 dman is worth a 3rd 4th liner isn’t it? show me where rychels value is his 3 assists?
Just hearing you talk about Tinordi as some prized asset. I don’t see it. Rychel’s 51 PTS in 71GP in the AHL at least suggest that he could become a middle 6 forward. He might need an attitude adjustment but he has more upside in my view.
none of the 2 are prized assets hence why I said it could be a good trade clb needs dmen and the habs need size on forwards coming up? as far as going with ahl stats too many players have done well in the ahl but could never cut it in the nhl
you talk like rychel who has asked for a trade is gonna get some huge return?? he will be a 3rd 4th liner in the nhl that’s it
Flyers are deep with young Dman-and short on high end young scoring forwards. I would trade Sam Morin for Drouin.
I don’t think either of these guys (Drouin or Rychel)is a good fit for the Leafs. Babcock is not going to play a guy until he’s proven himself ready. In the case of Nylander and Leipsic for example that means the better part of 2 seasons in the AHL. Unless you’re Auston Matthews I think you should play 2 full years in the minors, seems like a responsible approach for both the player and the team. Why either of these two feel they are entitled to NHL spots at this point should raise some red flags.
As I say above, the two picked ahead of Drouin in his draft year – MacKinnon and Barkov – are both NHL regulars as are 8 of the next 9 picks – Jones, Lindholm, Monahan, Nurse, Ristolainen, Horvat, Nishushkin and Domi.
That may well be… But no prospect on Babcock’s team should be expecting to step into a full time nhl role. If you want the roster spot you’ve got to tale it from a veteran. You’ve got to demonstrate you’re ready to show up night in, night out over 82 games. So Kerby, you better check yourself!
There’s this former Quebec League coach who knows exactly how well his youngster MacKinnon played with Drouin as his linemate.
I bet Patrick would give a first rounder for a reunion.
as his linemate in junior big difference from the nhl
Well 1st off TB blew it takng Drouin passing on Jones.
Spitballin:
Drouin – Ellis/4th
Yzerman is constantly reminded of that draft mistake as long as Drouin trade news is on the frontburner. Maybe he moves him sooner rather than later now that everybody is talking about it? Bosses don’t like to be embarrassed.
Kerby Rychel was projected a little high when drafted. Generally more of what is selected later on in drafts, like 2nd and 3rd round. Really, he had no particular skill that was world class but was an overall package type of guy. Still effective when not scoring, which is positive. The sometimes not scoring part is obviously the negative. His junior numbers was good, playing with Ho-Sang. That was juniors.
Anybody trading for him should be aware that they won’t get world class skill but an attractive overall package, a utility guy that can move up and down the lineup depending of depth chart. He could have a great 12 year career of mostly 3rd line duty, sometimes 2nd line, maybe finishing off with playing 4th line duty in later years. Just don’t trade away your prime scoring prospect for him and you’ll be good.
please lou lomerillo, whatever you do…do not go against everything you know…and trade for Drouin or draft nylander
but for giggles:
kadri for Drouin
I believe Gardiner plus Leivo (or another “B” prospect) for Drouin and Carle is good for both clubs. Tampa gets a #2/3 puck moving d man plus a decent prospect while gaining 1.5 million in cap space. Carle looks like he is playing at half speed this year, perhaps he is playing hurt? He doesn’t have a point this season. The Leafs can try and trade him or next year he becomes Robidas 2.0. Will he waive his NTC? I’m sure Yzerman can convince him…