On the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jonathan Drouin …
- The Fourth Period: Sounding like the Lightning are getting closer to trading Jonathan Drouin.
- David Pagnotta: Outside a major offer, thinking Drouin will be traded to the West. Among the West teams that are interested: Ducks, Blues, Predators, Avalanche, Flames and Blackhawks.
- David Pagnotta: Asked two sources if they think a Drouin trade will happen soon, both said “yes,” but wouldn’t say anything more.
- Chris Johnston of Sportsnet: On Friday night, there were about 10 teams watching Syracuse-Hershey, where Jonathan Drouin was making his AHL debut this season. There weren’t as many scouts there on Sunday, but the St. Louis Blues director of player personnel Rob DiMaio was there watching.
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 on Jonathan Drouin.
“I think St. Louis is really into that one. I think some other teams have looked. Montreal for sure. Chicago for sure. The Rangers for sure. Nashville for sure. I wouldn’t be surprised, now that they’ve traded Johansen, if Columbus is in on this one too.
“I know a lot of eyes are on St. Louis. Doug Armstrong and Steve Yzerman have a really good relationship going back to their Hockey Canada stuff. I think sometimes if you have a good relationship with someone, it can push a deal through. St. Louis is really hanging on. I could see both them and Nashville trying to get something done there.”
Friedman on if David Backes has to be involved from a Blues side of things.
“I think the thing is – first of all, Backes has a no-move clause. So he’s got to agree to it. That’s No. 1.
“No. 2 – Tampa is in a tight spot. I’ve been told – and it’s on really good authority from a couple of places – that Steve Yzerman has basically told people he’s got enough contract issues, he doesn’t want any more. That’s why if he’s going to trade Drouin, he’d prefer young for young. A contract he can control for awhile, or a player who doesn’t have free agency for awhile. That’s what he’d prefer to do.
“The other thing is, he’s right up against the cap. So if he’s going money in, he’s got to money out. If you look at his contracts, if he’s trading for Backes – unless he’s dealing Stamkos as part of this, which I doubt – you’re going to have to take one of his contracts. The thing is, Matt Carle is the guy he’d love to deal. But Carle still has term. Ryan Callahan still has term.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Yzerman would love to get Kevin Shattenkirk as part of it, but that means St. Louis is going to have to take a contract back, which I can’t imagine they’d want, with term. I’m not sure how he does that. If he’s going to take a contract like that, it’s got to be dollar in, dollar out.”