Update: Drouin suffered a minor injury and missed his latest AHL game.
Rob Zettler says Jonathan Drouin "tweaked something in lower body" and will not play in Utica today. https://t.co/0XvkXGuQkk
— Dan D'Uva (@Dan_DUva) April 3, 2016
The extent of his injury could drastically alter the story below.
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Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times he’s considering calling up Jonathan Drouin in lieu of star Steven Stamkos missing the next 1-3 months with a blood clot and ensuing surgery.
#tblightning Yzerman on potentially calling up Drouin: "Certainly something we have to consider."
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) April 3, 2016
Calling up Drouin would be the latest twist in the young forward’s battle with the team. The 21-year-old demanded a trade earlier this season after he was demoted to the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate. Drouin subsequently refused to play with Syracuse and was suspended indefinitely by Yzerman. After the trade deadline came and went without Drouin being dealt, cooler heads prevailed and his suspension was lifted as he reported to Syracuse.
Drouin has been dynamic since returning to the AHL, scoring nine goals in his last 10 games. In 17 games with Syracuse, Drouin has scored 11 times and has 13 points in 17 games. Yzerman admitted to being pleased with the third-overall pick in 2013’s progress, telling Smith “He’s played very well. You see the stat sheet, the goals. You love his attitude, his work ethic.”
Replacing Stamkos is impossible, and Drouin, who only has six career NHL goals, won’t step in and produce like the Rocket Richard winner. However, a call-up would be a nice bridge between repairing his relationship with Tampa Bay and give Drouin a chance to play top-six minutes in Stamkos’ absence to prove what he can do.
For both Drouin and the Lightning, it’s worth a shot.
