On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman was hoping to have traded Jonathan Drouin by the deadline, but he didn’t get the deal that he could live with.
“I’m not enjoying the situation, it’s certainly not how I wanted this to play out,” Yzerman said. “I’m not purposely dragging this out for everyone. I’m trying to do what the right thing for the team and when the right thing for the team comes along I’ll do that.”
Yzerman said yesterday that Drouin is welcome to come back to Syracuse of the AHL. He’s still on their roster and would be eligible for the AHL playoffs.
“If (Drouin) wants to come back, the door is open,” Yzerman said. “That’s up to him.”
Drouin’s agent Allan Walsh hasn’t responded to messages.
The Senators, Ducks, Canucks, Wild and Canadiens were among the teams that inquired about Drouin. Senators GM Bryan Murray said that he tried hard to get a deal done.
Yzerman said that most talks revolved around prospects and draft picks.
Drouin hasn’t played in a month, something that concerned some teams.
“Obviously not playing didn’t help the situation, it didn’t make it any easier to trade him,” Yzerman said.
TSNs Craig Button thinks Drouin’s value at the draft could be higher.
“More disappointed teams after playoffs means more change,” said Button, a former GM. “Not many teams trying to change makeup of teams right now.”
On the Los Angeles Kings …
- The Fourth Period: Kings GM Dean Lombardi on deadline day.
“I talked to a lot of people today, but didn’t anticipate anything that didn’t surprise me,” Lombardi told reporters, adding that he felt he was done making moves on Sunday.
On the Boston Bruins …
- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: The Bruins were never offered the young, top-four defenseman they were looking for in a Loui Eriksson deal. GM Don Sweeney didn’t feel he was getting full value offers from teams like the Blues, Wild and Ducks. Might sting a bit if they don’t re-sign him and he walks for nothing.