The Habs are reportedly joining what seems to be half the league, in noticing young star Jonathan Drouin. Since the winger asked to be traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team that drafted him in 2013, he has been playing with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL, and team after team has come forward expressing interest in his talent.
BREAKING NEWS Strong source confirms Habs making a huge push today putting a more significant package on table to acquire Drouin. — BrianWilde (@BWildeCTV) January 18, 2016
MTL one of handful of teams with serious interest but it's near impossible to handicap frontrunner/timeline. Only Steve Yzerman knows that. — Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 18, 2016
Canadiens' assistant general manager Rick Dudley was seen watching Drouin play on Saturday, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. The Habs are fortunate, as Drouin is a French-Canadian, and was born in Sainte-Agathe, Quebec, so the move back home may be appealing to him. The problem is that the Canadiens are not currently equipped to offer anything of substance for the 20-year-old.
My take, Habs not exactly in a strong position to knock Lightning's socks off in a trade offer, which is what it would take to get Drouin — Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) January 18, 2016
Plus with the current state of the team, there would be too much pressure on Drouin to save the team. It may be too much for a young player in such a hockey-centric city.
Montreal is now second in the Eastern Conference wild card spot, but they are trending downwards. They are only expecting their star goaltender, Carey Price, back after the all-star break, and he is still not a guarantee to stop the bleeding. Offense has been an issue as well, which is where Drouin would help. The Pittsburgh Penguins may overtake their wild card spot by then, as then have two games in hand and are only one point behind.
Drouin has six goals and 34 assists in 89 games in his NHL career.
