Steve Yzerman is either more intelligent even than the most ardent Lightning supporter would have thought, or he's incredibly lucky. Either way, it looks like the veteran NHL player and shrewd, hard-bargaining personnel man has a ready replacement for captain Steven Stamkos already in place, in Jonathan Drouin, despite the fact that it wasn't all that long ago most in and around the league were counting down the days to Drouin's Tampa Bay departure.
But with word coming down Saturday that Stamkos is dealing with a blood clot in his arm that will sideline him for at least the next month and possibly the two following months as well, the Lightning's chances at another deep run in the 2016 NHL playoffs took a serious hit.
Yzerman needs to find a replacement, and fast. But he may need to look no further than Syracuse, where Drouin has collected 9 goals and one assist in 10 games since re-joining the Lightning's AHL-affiliate on March 11.
Yzerman told reporters that the franchise would consider every possible means of filling Stamkos' spot, including promoting Drouin.
Of course, it won't be easy to replace Stamkos' production - 36 goals, 64 points. And it's not as simple as just promoting Drouin, the former third-overall pick, who made a much-publicized trade request prior to the 2015-16 NHL season, played poorly during the early portion of the year, and then was suspended indefinitely after being sent down to Syracuse.
But fences were mended when Drouin reached out to Yzerman earlier this month, asking if he could return to the Crunch. And with Stamkos' injury, combined with defenseman Anton Stralman's season-ender, the Lightning depth will be tested, and fast.
"Obviously, this situation is extremely disappointing because I wanted to help my team clinch a playoff spot and prepare for the start of the postseason," Stamkos said in a statement. "During my recovery, I will do all I can to help my teammates, and I hope to rejoin them soon in the Stanley Cup playoffs."
But the chances of Stamkos returning seem low. One month would put him in early May. Two months, early June. The Lightning captain is all but assured of missing the first round of the NHL playoffs, which starts on April 13.
The Stanley Cup Finals can run as late as June 18. That's only a little more than two months away.
Setting aside questions of whether this spells the end of Stamkos' Lightning tenure - he's slated to hit unrestricted free agency in the summer and talk swirled for much of the early portion of 2015-16 that he may be unhappy in Tampa, or at least happier elsewhere - his versatility and leadership will be sorely missed.
A center by trade (and preference), Stamkos has played the good soldier time and again, lining up on the wing when asked and excelling there.
Drouin, a natural left winger, would slot in on the second or third lines for Lightning coach Jonathan Cooper and provide, at the very least, an elite level of talent to a Tampa team that's looking its top players by the day.
In the end, truly replacing Stamkos is impossible. He's a one of a kind player with the leadership capabilities to match.
But what better way to determine if Drouin's a long-term fit with the franchise than to bring him up for the stretch run?
Either way, the Lightning will finally be getting a taste of what life is like without their captain.
