You made the error, own up to it. Take accountability, if you can grasp what that means. No need to get smarmy and defensive. You're getting the hits you wanted, be happy about it.
- Hofmeister

It's extremely loserish to point out spelling errors. I don't even know what that makes pointing out a homophone. It's ridiculous.

But yeah, better take some responsibility for a typo or else the internet will get me.

anytime anybody ever compares professional athletics to slavery or exploitation in any way, shape, or form, they do nothing but make themselves look completely idiotic.
- chester97

It also diminishes the horrors which every human being who has suffered or is suffering under the yoke of slavery has had to or continues to endure. Slavery has no comparison.

He hasnt met the approval of the employer he was assigned after graduating. There are plenty of others that want him and he would meet their standards and probably do well (not that 40 points in 90 games is bad for a rookie). I know this is the way the league works, I just agree with Tanner that he shouldnt be vilified for wanting to be in a better position to succeed. He could have handled it a bit better, but I cant fault anyone from trying to get ahead
- WhiteLie

People are also missing the main point: out of 7.6 billion people on earth, he is top 1000 (at worst, probably top 100) at what he does.

Again, I am not saying he's made the right move here, just that vilifying him is hilarious, hypocritical and stupid.

My main problem though is the culture of the NHL and its fans that just absolutely shuts down anyone who thinks for themselves or doesn't play by the established unwritten rule of shutting up and doing what you're told.

Whether its Drouin, Evander Kane, that kid from the Islanders, Brian Burke, whatever. People want to destroy or hate anyone different.

And, uh, the fact that they freely sign a collectively bargained agreement to work under said conditions with very expensive legal representation making sure the i's are dotted and the t's crossed.

Who has it better, an 18 yr old professional hockey player or an 18 year old enlistee in the military? Talk about signing your life away...
- Davewn

So because they either sign or don't play makes it right?
They don't have a choice dude. Imagine if that was the case in your job, you turn 18 and get drafted by mcRichards. enjoy the next 3 years until you can negotiate your next deal.

People are also missing the main point: out of 7.6 billion people on earth, he is top 1000 (at worst, probably top 100) at what he does.

Again, I am not saying he's made the right move here, just that vilifying him is hilarious, hypocritical and stupid.
- James_Tanner

I think he is being "vilified" because he is acting entitled and acting like he is better than the rest of the players. He has yet to earn anything and part of being a good teammate is earning everything you get. There is a system in place, good, bad or otherwise and he has to live with it. Being a professional athlete is the greatest "job" in the world but you take the good with the bad, sorry Drouin not everything is how you want it.

What other profession could a "kid" make almost a million dollars without proving one thing? Yzerman signed Drouin to a deal for about $800,000 per year without doing his job for one second. Yzerman has been paying Drouin that amount for doing a, arguably, crappy job. I think Drouin was treated better than the majority of working 18 year olds there.
- Kucherovski

The majority of 18 year olds are not among the best in the world at something. I think if people had any idea what kind of achievement it actually is to make the NHL they'd change their tune here.

People are also missing the main point: out of 7.6 billion people on earth, he is top 1000 (at worst, probably top 100) at what he does.

Again, I am not saying he's made the right move here, just that vilifying him is hilarious, hypocritical and stupid.

My main problem though is the culture of the NHL and its fans that just absolutely shuts down anyone who thinks for themselves or doesn't play by the established unwritten rule of shutting up and doing what you're told.

Whether its Drouin, Evander Kane, that kid from the Islanders, Brian Burke, whatever. People want to destroy or hate anyone different.
- James_Tanner

It's actually written in his contract and CBA. Do as your told by the Lightning orgnaization for a HUGE sum of money.

Man you are completely clueless. Everything you are advocating for is special treatment.

Who cares about contracts, the law or precedent?


This has to be a (frank)ing joke James. And you are saying your argument went over my head? Keep dreaming pal, you've been called out multiple times about what a waste of memory your argument was and you have no reasonable response. You didn't have a (frank)ing argument and you still don't, you just keep responding with the above bullpoop that proves nothing and does nothing to further the discussion.

And since when does everyone do whatever they want? Last time I checked most prospects on UFA contracts play where the team thinks it is best for them to play and it is actually pretty much just Drouin who is trying to do whatever he wants.
- RonPielep

Oh my god dude. Whatever. You're the best. Please, please keep going with your amusing posts.

Go play in the (frank)ing KHL if you have a damn problem with that. Since when did young hockey players (or employees of any kind for that matter) who haven't proven poop get to decide where they want to be employed by a specific employer (i.e., the NHL)?
- RonPielep

He can't. the KHL honors NHL contracts

People are also missing the main point: out of 7.6 billion people on earth, he is top 1000 (at worst, probably top 100) at what he does.

Again, I am not saying he's made the right move here, just that vilifying him is hilarious, hypocritical and stupid.

My main problem though is the culture of the NHL and its fans that just absolutely shuts down anyone who thinks for themselves or doesn't play by the established unwritten rule of shutting up and doing what you're told.

Whether its Drouin, Evander Kane, that kid from the Islanders, Brian Burke, whatever. People want to destroy or hate anyone different.
- James_Tanner

The bolded part is hilarious. You shouldn't equate yourself to all people who think for themselves. Some people who think for themselves make good arguments and sometimes those arguments are accepted (other times unfortunately they are shut down). James, you make about 90% bad arguments (this one being a particular doozy) and usually they get shut down rightfully so. It's not generally because you are an independent thinker that you get shut down so much, it's because your arguments are very weak and lack substance (and you have a strong reputation for it). On top of that you then fail at backing them up and respond with something like, "it's just over your head."

The majority of 18 year olds are not among the best in the world at something. I think if people had any idea what kind of achievement it actually is to make the NHL they'd change their tune here.
- James_Tanner

That is exactly my point. Drouin has not PROVEN he is the best in the world at his job. He was signed and given a lot of money on potential, not results. Since he hasn't lived up to the hype would you be angry if Yzerman voided his contract and gave him one for a lot less? Can't have it both ways.

That is exactly my point. Drouin has not PROVEN he is the best in the world at his job. He was signed and given a lot of money on potential, not results. Since he hasn't lived up to the hype would you be angry if Yzerman voided his contract and gave him one for a lot less? Can't have it both ways.
- Kucherovski

Getting drafted 3rd and getting an ELC was not based on potential, it was based upon what he did up until the time of the draft.

JD isn't asking for another contract, he is asking to play in an environment that is suitable to him, on the same ELC.

It also diminishes the horrors which every human being who has suffered or is suffering under the yoke of slavery has had to or continues to endure. Slavery has no comparison.
- BlueBallz

Slaves didn't make hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars? How much did they make?

He's actually not paid a huge sum of money. If he would suffer a career ending injury he has a nice nest egg maybe a 1-1.5 million after taxes. Not enough to buy even a family house in a major US city.

He's also dramatically underpaid compared to his true mkt value which was negotiated away by older players in the CBA in order to increase the value of UFA's who are past their prime hockey player years.

halfway around the world was in reference to your suggestion he goes to Russia

I see what youre saying with entities, the draft was put in place by the league to ensure parity between all the teams and the league manages the competition between teams. But I dont see the issue with one player wanting to move, asking to be moved and then withholding services until he is moved. With the transfer rules in place he cant go play in other leagues, no one can take him in Europe and the KHL has a handshake agreement on this as well. He is trapped and probably has zero other skills by which to make a living. I dont blame him for wanting to be in a different opportunity to maximize his potential (whether thats just his opinion or reality)
- WhiteLie

Yeah and I have no problem if someone works for a Shell office in Calgary and would rather work in the Shell office in Vancouver so they decide not to work until they are moved. I also have no problem with Shell telling that employee to suck a Richard and either work in Calgary like they agreed to or go (frank) themselves and not get paid.

And the KHL/Europe poop is like saying the employee essentially signed a non-compete clause with Shell, but when Shell doesn't want to move them to Vancouver the employee wants to go work for Chevron in Vancouver. But they can't because they signed a non-compete so too (frank)ing bad, do the job you signed on for and next time think twice about signing a contract you're not ready to fulfill.

Getting drafted 3rd and getting an ELC was not based on nothing, it was based upon what he did up until the time of the draft.

JD isn't asking for another contract, he is asking to play in an environment that is suitable to him, on the same ELC.
- mungozen

He got drafted 3rd based on what he did in the junior league, not at his job. He was given a max ELC which is not too shabby for never doing your actual job.

JD asking for something suitable to him is the problem, who is JD, why is he better than anyone else? If we allow JD to do this and think it's fine for JD to do this people will leave the last place teams every year. Nobody said being a professional athlete was easy but you get paid well to do it and sometimes you're happy and sometimes you're not. What if everyone in Edmonton just refused to play because they were not playing in Chicago?

People are also missing the main point: out of 7.6 billion people on earth, he is top 1000 (at worst, probably top 100) at what he does.

Again, I am not saying he's made the right move here, just that vilifying him is hilarious, hypocritical and stupid.

My main problem though is the culture of the NHL and its fans that just absolutely shuts down anyone who thinks for themselves or doesn't play by the established unwritten rule of shutting up and doing what you're told.

Whether its Drouin, Evander Kane, that kid from the Islanders, Brian Burke, whatever. People want to destroy or hate anyone different.
- James_Tanner

You're really nailing it now.

Drouin ranks in the NHL as of right now this season.
Goals: 415th
assists: 351st
points: 392nd
shots: 519th
PP points: 317th

So he's not in the top 100 in anything.

Also you couldn't pick anybody better than Evander Kane? Ran himself off a team by missing practices, not complying with team rules and was under investigation for an alleged sex crime.

What is wrong with you?

He's actually not paid a huge sum of money. If he would suffer a career ending injury he has a nice nest egg maybe a 1-1.5 million after taxes. Not enough to buy even a family house in a major US city.

He's also dramatically underpaid compared to his true mkt value which was negotiated away by older players in the CBA in order to increase the value of UFA's who are past their prime hockey player years.
- sditulli

People seem to be forgetting this as well. Drouin was not around when the CBA was negotiated on his behalf

That is exactly my point. Drouin has not PROVEN he is the best in the world at his job. He was signed and given a lot of money on potential, not results. Since he hasn't lived up to the hype would you be angry if Yzerman voided his contract and gave him one for a lot less? Can't have it both ways.
- Kucherovski

If SY voided his contract there would be 29 other teams offering him more money to do the same job.
I can guarantee if he had freedom to sign whatever he wanted he could get a one way deal that payed him more money.
He doesn't have that freedom.
When you don't have freedom of choice what is it called?

Yeah and I have no problem if someone works for a Shell office in Calgary and would rather work in the Shell office in Vancouver so they decide not to work until they are moved. I also have no problem with Shell telling that employee to suck a Richard and either work in Calgary like they agreed to or go (frank) themselves and not get paid.
- RonPielep

Yep, its going to be one of two options and I dont blame either party for their stance. They both have a right to do this in the current system, knowing the risks and penalties involved

Slaves didn't make hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars? How much did they make?
- drummer829

Millions of Dracmas. So, nothing.

The bolded part is hilarious. You shouldn't equate yourself to all people who think for themselves. Some people who think for themselves make good arguments and sometimes those arguments are accepted (other times unfortunately they are shut down). James, you make about 90% bad arguments (this one being a particular doozy) and usually they get shut down rightfully so. It's not generally because you are an independent thinker that you get shut down so much, it's because your arguments are very weak and lack substance (and you have a strong reputation for it). On top of that you then fail at backing them up and respond with something like, "it's just over your head."
- RonPielep

You tried to make a point, missed what I was saying completely and now you're acting like a child. Please go away.

He can't. the KHL honors NHL contracts
- Pres.cup

See my comment above comparing it to signing a non-compete clause. Here Shell is the NHL and Chevron is the KHL.

People seem to be forgetting this as well. Drouin was not around when the CBA was negotiated on his behalf
- WhiteLie

$800k as a 19 year old to play hockey seems to be ok, Drouin is doing fine financially. If someone would be willing to pay him more, who knows but he should be happy the minimum is that high. I don't think we know his real "market value" as the value of him is currently what he is being paid, not hypothetical someone would pay him more because he did good in major Junior.

If SY voided his contract there would be 29 other teams offering him more money to do the same job.
I can guarantee if he had freedom to sign whatever he wanted he could get a one way deal that payed him more money.
He doesn't have that freedom.
When you don't have freedom of choice what is it called?
- Pres.cup

Drouin has a 3 year deal with Tampa, if he played he would get paid for 3 years. At this point I don't think any other team would offer him millions of dollars for many many years, maybe $1m for 1 year to prove himself, I would rather 3 years of $850k compared to 1 year at $1m.