Yzerman discusses possibility of Drouin trade, Stamkos contract

By Erik Erlendsson
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Updated: January 10, 2016

GM Steve Yzerman went on national television Saturday to discuss the state of the Lightning, and specifically the thinking involving LW Jonathan Drouin and C Steven Stamkos.

Drouin, who played his second game with Syracuse in the American Hockey League on Saturday, recently made it public that he has asked for a trade. Stamkos remains unsigned for next season and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 if an extension is not worked out.

Yzerman was on the “Hockey Night in Canada” pregame show on CBC television and reiterated that in Drouin’s case, he was reassigned to Syracuse strictly to get playing time. That was after playing in only nine games during the previous two months because of injury, even though it was not classified as a conditioning assignment.

And though it’s been widely speculated that a trade involving Drouin is on the horizon, Yzerman said only under certain pretences.

“I am prepared to trade him but any deal that I make has to be what I consider a good deal for the Tampa Bay Lightning,” Yzerman said. “We drafted Jonathan Drouin third overall for a reason because we believe he’s going to be a very good hockey player and I still believe he’s going to be a very good hockey player in this league. So it’s important for our organization that if we make a trade we get equal value, and you can measure that in a lot different ways, But Jonathan has been told that he won’t be traded to make him happy but because it’s a good trade for the Tampa Bay Lightning.’’

Yzerman was then asked about where things stand in regards to any discussion on an extension for Stamkos and whether any contract numbers have been exchanged to this point but he remained quiet, as both sides have agreed to keep things out of the media, but indicated the situation remains fluid.

“Steven has come out publicly and said he wants to remain with the Lightning, and hopes that we can work out a deal and that he wins a Stanley Cup as the captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning,’’ Yzerman said. “That’s what we want as well and we’ll continue to work towards that.’’

While there has been plenty of speculation as to wether or not what position Stamkos plays has factored in to the situation at all, or if there is a philosophical difference in where Stamkos plays.

“He’s the captain of our team and he has said he prefers to play center, and there is nothing wrong with that and I don’t interpret that as if he’s unhappy or doesn’t like the coach,’’ Yzerman said. “He has played right wing and quite frankly has done well at right wing, and that’s a good thing for our team, The coach has the flexibility to put guys in different spots. I see that as nothing but a positive. I can’t put words in Steven’s mouth, but from every conversation we’ve had, there are no philosophical differences.’’

And what about Yzerman’s relationship with head coach Jon Cooper?

“We talk on a regular basis about a lot of different things, line combinations, where players play, who they play with and we talk about it a lot,’’ Yzerman said. “Ultimately Jon is the coach of the team and he’ll make the final decisions on who plays where and with whom and how much they play, that’s the coach’s job. But we talk a lot, we are in constant communication, and we don’t necessarily agree on everything, I share my opinions, but I have faith in Jon as a head coach. I think he’s doing an outstanding job and makes good decisions and every decision he makes is ultimately for the best of the hockey club.’’

Record setter

As it turned out, Tampa Bay’s come-back victory in Edmonton on Friday proved to be historic in nature.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the 3-2 victory against the Oilers marked the first time in franchise history the Lightning have come back from down two or more goals in the third period to win a game in regulation.

After trailing 2-0 entering the third, Tampa Bay scored three unanswered goals in the third period with Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos rallying the Lightning to victory.

Game saver

Lost in the Lightning’s comeback on Friday in Edmonton was a goal line save made by Hedman in the final stretches of the first period that kept it a one-goal game at the time.

After a scramble around the net, G Ben Bishop was outside of the crease, Edmonton C Leon Draisaitl had an open chance between the circles. But Hedman was in the crease and laid out to make glove save and prevent the Oilers from going 2-0 late in the first. Bishop, meanwhile, was able to backhand the puck out of the air with his glove after it bounced off Hedman to prevent a rebound chance.

“I was a goalie when I was younger, so I had some talent,’’ Hedman said. “That ended up being a pretty big play to keep it 1-0, but there was nothing more than a little luck involved in that.’’

Nuts and Bolts

D Matt Carle and RW Jonathan Marchessault were scratched for the second consecutive game. … Drouin was scoreless on Saturday as Syracuse beat Hershey. D Anthony DeAngelo was a scratch for the second consecutive game as a “coach’s decision’’ according to head coach Rob Zettler after the game but added DeAngelo was expected to be back in the lineup Sunday.