. @BWildeCTV reports MTL pushing hard to make Jonathan Drouin trade with TB. My take on that is as follows:

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) 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

The Bobfather has spoken
- DDM-Coga

Who would they be moving out? McCarron? Beaulieu?

Who would they be moving out? McCarron? Beaulieu?
- sbroads24

I bet its a bigger deal, Galchenyuk involved is my guess

Yea, I'd love to get Drouin, outside of Eichel, he'd be the most talented Sabre, and I'm not sure if anyone would be close
- sbroads24

So I have wanted to get Drouin for a while, but never really watched his highlights in the NHL. Just Youtube them and tell me he can't make it in the NHL..... (I know you, sbroads24, is not saying he can't but to the haters)

Dude looks good, just need to work on his 200ft game, which will come with time, but I would take a "chance" on him (of course "chance" = trade a few quality assets).

Girgensons is a poor mans O'Reilly, but since we have O'Reilly locked up long term, I think he is an asset to move. I would think Girgensons and our second round pick gets us in the conversation, it would just depend if TB forced us to take a bad contract too and what added pieces there are.

I don't blame Drouin for being a little turned off by not getting playing time, watching all these other 19-20 year olds that have less talent getting tons of playing time for various teams and he is not getting any time. He needs to prove he can backcheck and other things, but I think O'Reilly here in Buffalo would set him straight.

I bet its a bigger deal, Galchenyuk involved is my guess
- DDM-Coga

Saw a couple rumors of straight up trade with those two.

So I have wanted to get Drouin for a while, but never really watched his highlights in the NHL. Just Youtube them and tell me he can't make it in the NHL..... (I know you, sbroads24, is not saying he can't but to the haters)

Dude looks good, just need to work on his 200ft game, which will come with time, but I would take a "chance" on him (of course "chance" = trade a few quality assets).

Girgensons is a poor mans O'Reilly, but since we have O'Reilly locked up long term, I think he is an asset to move. I would think Girgensons and our second round pick gets us in the conversation, it would just depend if TB forced us to take a bad contract too and what added pieces there are.

I don't blame Drouin for being a little turned off by not getting playing time, watching all these other 19-20 year olds that have less talent getting tons of playing time for various teams and he is not getting any time. He needs to prove he can backcheck and other things, but I think O'Reilly here in Buffalo would set him straight.
- Lilroot9

Im not hating on Drouin, just don't want to overpay for potential. Like i said Ennis is the player i would move but that doesn't work for TBL. We have 0% chance of getting him so again it doesn't even matter.

Saw a couple rumors of straight up trade with those two.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

based on the cap, Drouin not counting being in AHL, Lightning have 2.4m in cap, Galy at 2.8m...more would have to be done to make it work.

Thats why I think its going to be a bigger more complicated deal, tampa is going to do dump something, maybe Coburn?

based on the cap, Drouin not counting being in AHL, Lightning have 2.4m in cap, Galy at 2.8m...more would have to be done to make it work.

Thats why I think its going to be a bigger more complicated deal, tampa is going to do dump something, maybe Coburn?
- DDM-Coga

Not sure of the rules, but as Gal is in his last year, couldn't MTL keep 500k to keep TBL under? I mean cap dumps should be something Stevie Y wants to do as well, but MTL has 5m about to do, they can just swallow the dough, correct???

Not sure of the rules, but as Gal is in his last year, couldn't MTL keep 500k to keep TBL under? I mean cap dumps should be something Stevie Y wants to do as well, but MTL has 5m about to do, they can just swallow the dough, correct???
- RhinoFan

I would imagine that they can do that, i don't see why not. But then who or how do they dump remaining cap to sign Stammer?

Not sure of the rules, but as Gal is in his last year, couldn't MTL keep 500k to keep TBL under? I mean cap dumps should be something Stevie Y wants to do as well, but MTL has 5m about to do, they can just swallow the dough, correct???
- RhinoFan

Galy has another year on his contract, dont think they would be retaining since they have come cap issues too. Its interesting move b/w those 2 teams, just with both under 2m from the cap, they would have to do a bit of a balancing act

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 31m31 minutes ago

MTL's Rick Dudley was in SYR on Saturday watching Drouin. Today at 3:05 pm ET, SYR and Drouin are playing the Rochester Americans.

Im not hating on Drouin, just don't want to overpay for potential. Like i said Ennis is the player i would move but that doesn't work for TBL. We have 0% chance of getting him so again it doesn't even matter.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Do you think Girgensons and a 2nd (maybe 33 overall) is overpaying?

I think that would be fair value for both sides.

TB gets Girgensons with a entry level deal (last year of it) and I dont think he gets more than $2.5 mil next year, so they don't even take on much salary.

I think the deal would be

Girgensons
2016 2nd rounder (Sabres)

for

Drouin
Defenseman Salary Dump (~$3mil) (for more cap space this season)

Do you think Girgensons and a 2nd (maybe 33 overall) is overpaying?

I think that would be fair value for both sides.

TB gets Girgensons with a entry level deal (last year of it) and I dont think he gets more than $2.5 mil next year, so they don't even take on much salary.

I think the deal would be

Girgensons
2016 2nd rounder (Sabres)

for

Drouin
Defenseman Salary Dump (~$3mil) (for more cap space this season)
- Lilroot9

I honestly dont even think that gets the conversation rolling for Tampa. Not a shot at Girg at all, but Drouin price tag is just that high.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 31m31 minutes ago

MTL's Rick Dudley was in SYR on Saturday watching Drouin. Today at 3:05 pm ET, SYR and Drouin are playing the Rochester Americans.


- jochfr

(looks around.... where is Murray?)

Do you think Girgensons and a 2nd (maybe 33 overall) is overpaying?

I think that would be fair value for both sides.

TB gets Girgensons with a entry level deal (last year of it) and I dont think he gets more than $2.5 mil next year, so they don't even take on much salary.

I think the deal would be

Girgensons
2016 2nd rounder (Sabres)

for

Drouin
Defenseman Salary Dump (~$3mil) (for more cap space this season)
- Lilroot9

Girgs is worth more to us than he is them. That doesn't get it done. And i have to think long and hard about moving him either way. My convo starts at Ennis-2nd and a mid level prospect and we take back a salary dump.

I honestly dont even think that gets the conversation rolling for Tampa. Not a shot at Girg at all, but Drouin price tag is just that high.
- DDM-Coga

I don't think so either. I don't think Girgs fits there team, that being said who knows what the hell these GMs actually think or want.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...central/team.php?team=mon

Thats what I was going off. My bad.

I honestly dont even think that gets the conversation rolling for Tampa. Not a shot at Girg at all, but Drouin price tag is just that high.
- DDM-Coga

I respect your opinion, but a solid 200ft player to play against other top lines, could get something moving. I am not saying that TB does not come back wanting McGinn or something else (with Sabres taking back salary), but I think the phone conversation is still going.

I mean if I am TB, when I say, what's the price for Drouin I say Reinhart or Eichel. But we all know that won't happen, but like anything, you start at a higher value to get conversation going.

The other thing to note here is that Drouin is NOT IN THE NHL, so these large packages of players / prospects / picks for a guy does not work here cause he is not proven at all. Kane / O'Reilly trades they were more proven, so the asking price could be justified.

I don't think so either. I don't think Girgs fits there team, that being said who knows what the hell these GMs actually think or want.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Yzerman already implied that he isnt going to trade Drouin to do him any favours. Its not about the best fit for him, etc etc. He is going to get the most ridiculous over valued trade package he can for him.

When names like Brodin or Dumba from the Wild, Shattenkirk or Fabbri from the Blues(dont know why now). Vatanen or Fowler from the Ducks, its going to be just a dumb package that I hope the Avs stay out of (heard some local guys talk that it would take Barrie to get deal done).

Its going to be a random for Drouin,

Girgs is worth more to us than he is them. That doesn't get it done. And i have to think long and hard about moving him either way. My convo starts at Ennis-2nd and a mid level prospect and we take back a salary dump.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Honestly, I think the season is playing out perfectly for the Sabres and Girgensons, cause being an RFA at seasons end, the stat line is really disappointing and I think a lower deal would be offered (1-2 years ~$2.5mil?). Or we could do the 5-6 years at $3.5 mil per.

This would also play into TB's mindset as they dont want to commit a large salary to any outside player until they know what the deal is with Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov.

Girgs is worth more to us than he is them. That doesn't get it done. And i have to think long and hard about moving him either way. My convo starts at Ennis-2nd and a mid level prospect and we take back a salary dump.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I still don't see us going the salary-dump route. The guys they want/need to dump have too much term left.

Yzerman already implied that he isnt going to trade Drouin to do him any favours. Its not about the best fit for him, etc etc. He is going to get the most ridiculous over valued trade package he can for him.

When names like Brodin or Dumba from the Wild, Shattenkirk or Fabbri from the Blues(dont know why now). Vatanen or Fowler from the Ducks, its going to be just a dumb package that I hope the Avs stay out of (heard some local guys talk that it would take Barrie to get deal done).

Its going to be a random for Drouin,
- DDM-Coga

Would you give up Tyson Barrie+ for Drouin?

I respect your opinion, but a solid 200ft player to play against other top lines, could get something moving. I am not saying that TB does not come back wanting McGinn or something else (with Sabres taking back salary), but I think the phone conversation is still going.

I mean if I am TB, when I say, what's the price for Drouin I say Reinhart or Eichel. But we all know that won't happen, but like anything, you start at a higher value to get conversation going.

The other thing to note here is that Drouin is NOT IN THE NHL, so these large packages of players / prospects / picks for a guy does not work here cause he is not proven at all. Kane / O'Reilly trades they were more proven, so the asking price could be justified.
- Lilroot9

Just that there are going to be way more established and ridiculous packages out there for him. I dont think 2nd round picks will sway them as much as the other rumoured names involved.

Drouin not in the NHL, I dont believe, changes any value for him. If Cooper doesnt like him and would just keep him on the 4th line, him playing in the AHL, if anything, is going to increase his value when teams start seeing him in the Top 6 position that he should be.

I just think its going to be a shocker for what gets moved for him

Would you give up Tyson Barrie+ for Drouin?
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Im a huge Drouin fan and would love to see him and MacK back together, but not in a million years.

Barrie is a special Dman and it would be impossible to replace him. 1 step forward and 2 steps back for Drouin. Offence and PP are fine with the Avs, Defence still on going.

Im a huge Drouin fan and would love to see him and MacK back together, but not in a million years.

Barrie is a special Dman and it would be impossible to replace him. 1 step forward and 2 steps back for Drouin. Offence and PP are fine with the Avs, Defence still on going.
- DDM-Coga

I agree. Barrie is a beast. Not many NHL D-men are putting up 50pt seasons, especially at 24. If im the Avs i hang up the phone when i here Ty---*click*

So I have wanted to get Drouin for a while, but never really watched his highlights in the NHL. Just Youtube them and tell me he can't make it in the NHL..... (I know you, sbroads24, is not saying he can't but to the haters)

Dude looks good, just need to work on his 200ft game, which will come with time, but I would take a "chance" on him (of course "chance" = trade a few quality assets).

Girgensons is a poor mans O'Reilly, but since we have O'Reilly locked up long term, I think he is an asset to move. I would think Girgensons and our second round pick gets us in the conversation, it would just depend if TB forced us to take a bad contract too and what added pieces there are.

I don't blame Drouin for being a little turned off by not getting playing time, watching all these other 19-20 year olds that have less talent getting tons of playing time for various teams and he is not getting any time. He needs to prove he can backcheck and other things, but I think O'Reilly here in Buffalo would set him straight.
- Lilroot9

keep hearing about all this talent Drouin has.

He's shown his talent....in the minors, he has absolutely NOT shown it when given the opportunity in the NHL.

That's the difference between the other youngins you speak of, they've proven they belong, he has not, yet.

I'm not saying he won't, but i keep hearing all this talk that his success and dominance at an NHL level is a foregone conclusion just because he was a high draft pick....least we forgot how many high draft picks actually don't pan out.