James Tanner: Why I Support Jonathan Drouin

James Tanner: Why I Support Jonathan Drouin
- James_Tanner

bc its the hockey hipster thing to do,

#FreeDrouin

His agent Walsh should file a class action suit against all winning organizations that let their prospects mature/develop in the AHL so they are, you know, better quality, NHL ready contributors when they earn the opportunity to play with the big club. SMH

He signed a 2-way contract. He has no choice. Go ahead and ask your employer to not show up for work so you don't get injured while seeking other employment. See how that goes.

Fingers should point to Drouin's shady agent for making this worse.

Tanner, you're not recognizing the legal issues surrounding this.

Tanner, your opinion doesn't count. You still think the Arizona franchise is a legit franchise of the NHL. Everyone knows otherwise. Drouin signed a contract, the union he belongs to did not call a strike, therefore he has no right to walk off the job. He (and his piece of crap agent) need to go the the KHL.

Yzerman is trying to control Drouin's next contract, and those after. Looks like his plan won't wok out

No doubt Drouin has immense skill and I do think he belongs in the NHL. I don't think this is the right way to do it though. If he can start being as dominant as we all know he can at least at the AHL level, then we can start pointing fingers at TB to make a move.

You couldn't be more wrong. He played SEVEN games in the AHL. He's played a total of NINE games in the AHL in his career.

Let's say that Tampa, instead of rushing him into the league in the first place, put him in the AHL for a full season. Would you be pissed off about that? I am assuming not because that is the natural progression of NHL players. If he played that full season in the AHL prior to joining the big club, he's have far less $$ in his pocket and no one would be talking about rich owners.. so your point on that holds zero merit.

Ya know what.. if Tampa kept him in the minors all year, and didn't find a trade for him this summer, THEN I, and I'm sure many others, would agree with you.

Thing is, he was in the minors for seven damn games. Seven.

He's a spoiled brat getting horrible advice from an agent.

Drouin should be guaranteed top minutes, well because he is jon drouin, and he says so, lol

I get you point, but why doesn't Drouin play in the AHL, work hard, improve his game, and make the best out of a difficult decision.

As for the arguement about him getting hurt in the minors, well tough S**t! Thats the chance you take when you CHOOSE to become a professional athlete!!!!! There isn't enough space to write the names of players in his situation who bided there time in the minors and in the press box until the time came for them to get a chance at a regular roster spot in NHL.

He knew full well what his entry level contract entailed. You can make the arguement that rookies get screwed while vets make bank, but thats what a union does! Veteran teachers make more than new teachers! The players agreed upon this structure, and thats their right.

Drouin had a choice to play hard, wait for his chance, and let Tampa find a trade that suited the organization, but he CHOSE to become a distraction and thus make it more difficult for Tampa to get a fair return. Now, he has to wait even longer!

Another example of a player thinking he's above the rules!

Maybe now he will try to hold his breath until he turns blue. That always works for 2 year olds when they don't get what they want

BOOO HOOO, poor Drouin.

Gee, who didn't see this coming?

James Tanner: Why I Support Jonathan Drouin
- James_Tanner

Of course. Why wouldn't you.

You couldn't be more wrong. He played SEVEN games in the AHL. He's played a total of NINE games in the AHL in his career.

Let's say that Tampa, instead of rushing him into the league in the first place, put him in the AHL for a full season. Would you be pissed off about that? I am assuming not because that is the natural progression of NHL players. If he played that full season in the AHL prior to joining the big club, he's have far less $$ in his pocket and no one would be talking about rich owners.. so your point on that holds zero merit.

Ya know what.. if Tampa kept him in the minors all year, and didn't find a trade for him this summer, THEN I, and I'm sure many others, would agree with you.

Thing is, he was in the minors for seven damn games. Seven.

He's a spoiled brat getting horrible advice from an agent.
- Charliebox

This is the kind of reaction I expected. But its based on a false premise. He already proved he is NHL quality. The Lightning are acting like immature babies. It's his only move. I find the judgement so sad - just think about it for a bit.

Tanner, your opinion doesn't count. You still think the Arizona franchise is a legit franchise of the NHL. Everyone knows otherwise. Drouin signed a contract, the union he belongs to did not call a strike, therefore he has no right to walk off the job. He (and his piece of crap agent) need to go the the KHL.
- powerenforcer

umm what?

I get you point, but why doesn't Drouin play in the AHL, work hard, improve his game, and make the best out of a difficult decision.

As for the arguement about him getting hurt in the minors, well tough S**t! Thats the chance you take when you CHOOSE to become a professional athlete!!!!! There isn't enough space to write the names of players in his situation who bided there time in the minors and in the press box until the time came for them to get a chance at a regular roster spot in NHL.

He knew full well what his entry level contract entailed. You can make the arguement that rookies get screwed while vets make bank, but thats what a union does! Veteran teachers make more than new teachers! The players agreed upon this structure, and thats their right.

Drouin had a choice to play hard, wait for his chance, and let Tampa find a trade that suited the organization, but he CHOSE to become a distraction and thus make it more difficult for Tampa to get a fair return. Now, he has to wait even longer!

Another example of a player thinking he's above the rules!

Maybe now he will try to hold his breath until he turns blue. That always works for 2 year olds when they don't get what they want

BOOO HOOO, poor Drouin.
- rrentz

Two legs bad. Long live four legs. Unless it becomes inconvenient. Then long live two legs.

This is the kind of reaction I expected. But its based on a false premise. He already proved he is NHL quality. The Lightning are acting like immature babies. It's his only move. I find the judgement so sad - just think about it for a bit.
- James_Tanner

He has 40 points in 89 career games, a grand total of 6 goals. Get out of here with he's proven to be NHL quality. In 19 games this year he has 8 points.

umm what?
- Codes1087

Arizona franchise has and will continue to be on life-support. How the other owners have allowed it to stay in Ariz is beyond me. Pull the plug already.

This is the kind of reaction I expected. But its based on a false premise. He already proved he is NHL quality. The Lightning are acting like immature babies. It's his only move. I find the judgement so sad - just think about it for a bit.
- James_Tanner

The Lightning organization are doing what they think is best for the organization. One player, no matter how talented, is not going run amok and do whatever he thinks is best for himself to spite the team that he is employed by.

He's going rogue and that is not good for business when he still has so much to prove, at the level, he's been striving to reach since he first laced up a pair of skates.

These are his "career" stats:
2014–15 Syracuse Crunch AHL 2 1 2 3 0
2014–15 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 70 4 28 32 34
2015–16 Syracuse Crunch AHL 7 2 1 3 2
2015–16 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 19 2 6 8 4
i say "career" because he hasn't played 100 professional games. I don't see anything there that would suggest Drouin is too good to develope in the AHL. Work had, Pay your dues and earn your spot. Dont demand it be given to you.

The NHL - and its fans - don't respect anyone who has a different opinion about anything. I won't be arguing this with people all day long. I just suggest that people be open minded and think about why Drouin is such a bad guy, but it's OK for Yzerman to act like he's five and ruin his career until he's 26. (I saw many people suggest he should).

You don't have agree with me, but I laid out my reasons, so saying that I'm just saying this just to say it is offensive.

This is the kind of reaction I expected. But its based on a false premise. He already proved he is NHL quality. The Lightning are acting like immature babies. It's his only move. I find the judgement so sad - just think about it for a bit.
- James_Tanner

The Lightning want more obviously. They have a system, that system works fairly well and it would seem Drouin could not consistently find a place in said system despite being a tremendous possession player and terrific set up man. So he gets sent down to the minors, pouts about it, then proceeds to put below average #'s for a player of his caliber. All of this while still on an entry level deal and demanding a trade ASAP. I just don't see how the lighting are being immature. Yzerman knows what he's got in Drouin and he obviously does not want to risk losing a potential star player for years to come for rentals/poor returns.

Two legs bad. Long live four legs. Unless it becomes inconvenient. Then long live two legs.
- James_Tanner

Tampa has the RIGHT to do what they want with an employee. He didn't fit in the lineup this year for a few different reasons (i.e. his play, bad player/coach realationship, etc) and then he DEMANDED a trade.

Tampa hasn't found the deal they want, so he has to wait.

Those be the brakes!!

This is the kind of reaction I expected. But its based on a false premise. He already proved he is NHL quality. The Lightning are acting like immature babies. It's his only move. I find the judgement so sad - just think about it for a bit.
- James_Tanner

He has not proved he is NHL quality until the coach says he is.

To be 'proven' in the NHL, it takes more than one and a half seasons. The NHL is littered with former players who had a couple good seasons before they fizzled out. Tampa sees major weaknesses in the defensive side of his game and they sent him down to work on it.

Perfect comparison. Mika Zibanejad in Ottawa. He had 33pts, including 16 goals, in 69 games with Ottawa in his first full season. That's 2nd line center stats right there..

What did the Sens do? They started him in the minors the following year. According to you, he was a 'proven' NHL player and should have sat out and demanded a trade, right?

What did Mika do? Took his medicine, and dominated the AHL so that the Sens had no choice but to bring him back up.

I'm sure there are countless examples of this happening in the NHL.

According to your theory, Tampa is doing this just to screw Drouin. Please, explain to me, why Tampa and Yzerman would want to make their own team worse in the long run just to screw the kid over?

I respect your position but I couldn't disagree with your more. I guess coming from a Lightning fan this will sound somewhat hollow but so be it.

In Cooper's system you are expected to back check and play defensively responsible hockey. In the opportunities (limited) he was give, he was a fairly lackluster defensive player. Look at someone like Kucherov. He was considered a lazy defender in his draft year but has gone on to become a fairly decent because he works at it. Now Kucherov's offensive game is shining through and he is arguably Tampa's best player.

When you mention the veteran players being paid more than entry level players, isn't that how most jobs work? You are typically rewarded on experience vs potential.

I support Drouin as well. But not for any of the reasons you give.

1. Its not relevant who owners are. That wipes out half the article.
2. He has to make it on merit. BUT perhaps the powers that be are not using him right.
3. This is months in the making. And there have been multiple issues with TB in recent years.
4. A side note is Stamkos. Wonder what affect this might have.

Do you really think Walsh made this move without having a plan B in his pocket. He's a a lawyer he has several other plans. Scratch that - lets call it plan Radulov. I'm certain Drouin has considered this. Hell 3 months in the KHL would be several Millions. If he signs there TB will get no trade bate for this years playoff.

So who has more to loose at this point. TB