I usually agree with Russ Cohen's observations on the Buzzcast, and on most occasions, I appreciate his clever use of irony and humor--especially when dealing with hot-button issues. He is a real hoot.
However, during the Monday January 4, 2016 Buzzcast, I think he was in error in claiming that Jon Cooper shows favoritism toward players that he coached with the Syracuse Crunch and the Norfolk Admirals. Mr. Cohen specifically cites Alex Killorn as a player who doesn't deserve ice-time over the more-talented Jonathan Drouin. With all due respect, Russ, I disagree: Alex Killorn is an excellent two-way player who fits well in the Lightning's puck-possession game; he is especially adept at getting the puck down-ice during critical moments in a game and then digging the puck out of corners for Stamkos and Filppula/Callahan. Killorn is also versatile and exceptionally intelligent; he has adjusted his game to move from line-to-line this season, in order to offset the many injury issues that the Lightning have faced.
On another note, Mike Augello also piles-on Cooper on the Monday January 4, 2016 Buzzcast, claiming that a player of Drouin's talent has been misused on the Lightning's fourth line [my paraphrase], when, in fact, almost all of the time that Drouin has logged
this season has been on the first or the second line (and the power play). Drouin has missed large swatches of this season due to injury, not because he was benched or "on the outs" with Coach Cooper. And, Drouin was sent back to the AHL recently because of the God-awful performances that he delivered in his two most recent games with the Lightning. These games showed that he was obviously struggling to get back up to speed after an extended absence due to injury. This is no knock on his talent: just a brute fact, something that could happen to most any player--highly skilled, or not. The Lightning had the advantage of being able to send him back to the AHL without him having to clear waivers, and they used that option wisely. As Mr. Yzerman stated in his recent press conference, Jonathan "needs ice-time" to get back up to speed. Unfortunately, the Lightning have put themselves in a position where they cannot afford to cover for Drouin's rusty play while he gets back up to speed. This is obviously not Drouin's fault; he merely faces the brute fact that he is part of a team that is in such a predicament, and the needs of the team, ultimately, come before the short-term arc of any one player's career.
Jonathan Drouin is, without a doubt, a phenomenal talent whose game is still growing. I am a bit sad that he has chosen to play elsewhere, but that is ultimately
his choice, not the choice of the Lightning fans who enjoy his uncanny ability to split the D and then lay the puck past a goalie and into the top shelf. He will likely shine with his next NHL team, because of his creativeness and his other-worldly puck-handling skills. Teams like the St. Louis Blues, the Minnesota Wild, or the Nashville Predators could benefit greatly from his giftedness and his sheer skill. He is a fun player to watch, as demonstrated in some of his performances earlier this season with the Lightning, when he was logging first-line minutes with Stamkos and Callahan/Killorn/Filppula. I wish him the best with his next NHL team, and during the entirety of his hopefully-long NHL career.
