Yzerman: 'It's very realistic' Drouin will be called up to Lightning

Jonathan Drouin returned to the AHL's Syracuse Crunch on Friday, and despite not playing for two months, didn't look like he'd missed a step, impressing Tampa Bay Lightning manager Steve Yzerman.

"Jonathan played his first three games back on the weekend. He played Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I wasn't at the games live, but watched them all on the AHL website. I thought considering the length of time he was out, he looked good," Yzerman said, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.

The 20-year-old recorded an assist in his first game against Bridgeport, and scored twice on Saturday against Rochester. He was held off the scoresheet in his final game of the weekend in Springfield, but did record five shots on goal.

Yzerman insisted this is what he expected when Drouin was originally sent down to Syracuse in January, which led to the former No. 3 pick's refusal to report to the club, and subsequent suspension from the Lightning.

The suspension was lifted when Drouin agreed to return to AHL earlier in March, and with his strong showing over the weekend, a return to Tampa Bay could come sooner rather than later.

"The plan was for him to go down and play and come back," Yzerman continued, "so with the situation right now, if it is good for our team and it is the right thing to do, he will be recalled. So it's very realistic."

The Lightning offense looked like it may need a boost last week after scoring just three goals over a three-game losing streak, but came back alive Sunday in a 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.