3 potential landing spots for Jonathan Drouin
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin may soon get his wish to leave the sunny confines of Florida.
The 2013 third overall pick has struggled to prove himself to the club that drafted him. After receiving minimal ice time from head Jon Cooper, followed by a demotion to the AHL, things finally boiled over Sunday when Drouin's agent, Allan Walsh, broke his silence and released a statement that revealed a November trade requested on behalf of the young winger.
That said, here are three potential landing spots for Drouin:
Ottawa Senators
The Senators sit just two points behind the East's final wild-card spot and could benefit from added skill on the left side.
The club boasts a steady attack with a 2.84 goals-for per game, good enough for sixth in the NHL. However, next to Mike Hoffman, the team lacks a skilled winger who can play the left side.
The club has plugged Zack Smith on the top trio with Kyle Turris and Mark Stone, and yet Smith has just 10 points in 37 games.
Veteran Milan Michalek remains out with a fractured finger, but even when healthy, he only managed five goals and eight points in 24 games. Drouin could be a good fit for the club, and with the potential for an increased role, the Senators could be a good fit for him as well.
Arizona Coyotes
Similar to the Senators, the Coyotes lack depth at left wing. Next to rookie sensation Max Domi, the club doesn't boast a left side scoring threat (and no, Pacific Division All-Star captain John Scott doesn't fit this mold).
Drouin may have added value in that he has experience playing center. The Coyotes top two centermen are Antoine Vermette and Brad Richardson, neither of whom scream elite. Drouin would certainly be an upgrade.
What helps both sides in a potential swap is the Coyotes have an abundance of riches that could be used to seal a deal. The club holds the rights to highly touted prospects Dylan Strome, Christian Dvorak, Conor Garland, Brendan Perlini, and Ryan Macinnis, among others, so if the ask in return is young talent - the Coyotes have the necessary pieces.
Colorado Avalanche
What makes Drouin so desirable is his obvious skill, which was front and center in his time with the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads.
During the 2012-13 season, the Mooseheads had a ridiculous 58-6-4 record, en route to a President's Cup and Memorial Cup, thanks in large part to Drouin and linemate Nathan MacKinnon.
The pair combined for 180 regular-season points and another 68 in the playoffs. The Avalanche could be the perfect home for Drouin as it would reunite the dynamic duo, while slotting Drouin in behind Gabriel Landeskog, among the club's left wingers.
Drouin has failed to gel with anyone in his time with the Lightning, but in Colorado he could be coupled with a talented center with whom he's had prior success.
The Avalanche don't have any budding left wingers in the pipeline, so an upgrade will likely need to be acquired rather than developed.