Jonathan Drouin is more potential than anything at this point. Yes, he's a talented prospect, hence the fact that the Tampa Bay Lightning snagged him with the third-overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, but Drouin has yet to realize that potential. Through 70 NHL games last year and 19 this season, Drouin has just six goals and 40 points. During the Lightning's run through the NHL playoffs last season, Drouin dressed for just six games and didn't register a point.
As such, determining his value now that his agent has pushed for a trade to another hockey home, is no small feat. Despite that fact, any number of NHL teams are said to have interest in acquiring the 20-year-old Quebec-native. Per a report, the New York Rangers are chief among those teams.
"It's significant," TSN's Darren Dreger said Wednesday of the Rangers' interest in Drouin, while appearing on Toronto's TSN 1050, per Today's Slap Shot. "Now, whether or not there's a deal to be made is another thing and I don't believe that the Rangers have a full grasp on what the asking price is. But I was working on this yesterday as well and they do have some interest."
Of course, interest is only one small part of the equation. Lightning GM Steve Yzerman has to actually be motivated to move Drouin, which he doesn't seem to be. He sent Drouin to Syracuse and said only that he was willing to "acknowledge" the young forwards trade request. He followed that with a promise that he would continue to do what's best for Tampa Bay.
Then there's compensation. Rangers GM Jeff Gorton's interest will surely evaporate pretty quickly if Yzerman's asking price for Drouin is astronomical, which, considering his draft slot only a few short years ago, it very well may be.
And again, this is where Drouin's potential comes in. He has the potential to become a top-six forward, and that's surely something Yzerman is all too aware of.
But there's also no guarantee that Drouin can make that leap.
Would it be better for Yzerman to hold on and hope that Drouin can take that next step with the Lightning, or cut bait and get what he can for a player who many weren't sold on ahead of 2013? Yzerman reportedly is intent on seeing the Lightning add a top-tier, right handed defenseman. Could Drouin land that?
It's a tough call, but there's no doubting that Gorton and most of the rest of the league's GM's are awaiting Yzerman's decision.
