On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Bay Times: Looking at why the Tampa Bay Lightning should keep forward Jonathan Drouin.
Though he could help land them the defensive help they need, the Lightning should keep RFA winger Jonathan Drouin.
It will be hard for the Lightning to re-sign RFAs Drouin, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson. They will likely have to trade someone, and that should be Johnson.
Drouin is too talented to trade for a No. 3 or No. 4 defenseman. The 22-year old scored 21 goals season while adding 32 assists. Sure he can disappear at times, has the odd brain cramp and has had some issues with the coaching staff, but “talent is talent.”
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Looking at why the Tampa Bay Lightning should trade Jonathan Drouin.
The Lightning have a big need for a puck-moving top-four defenseman. If a trade is a mistake, it would depend on what the return is.
The Lightning need to re-sign Drouin, Palat and Johnson, as well as signing a backup goalie, and they currently only have $18 million in cap space.
“Let’s face it, (GM Steve) Yzerman has some incredible financial challenges coming his way, and he’s got to be thinking about leaving a pile of money for (Nikita) Kucherov down the road,” said Sportsnet NHL analyst Nick Kypreos. “Between Palat, Johnson and Drouin, there’s not enough money to go around. Someone is getting the chair pulled out from underneath him.”
Drouin’s trade value is at it’s highest right now. He rejuvenated his career after asking for a trade well over a year ago.
Drouin may be their best trade chip to add a top defenseman. TSNs Scott Cullen suggested a deal around LA Kings Jake Muzzin. The Wild have defenseman Matt Dumba and Marco Scandella that might be available before the expansion draft.