New York Post’s Larry Brooks reports that the Tampa Bay Lightning are focusing on moving forward Jonathan Drouin this offseason for a top-four defenseman. He continues to say that the Anaheim Ducks is the likely trade partner for the Lightning. The 22-year-old Drouin is coming off a breakout season for the Lightning in which he scored 21 goals and 32 assists for 53 points. Despite his success, Tampa Bay is overloaded in quality forwards and could use a trade like this to balance out their rosters, especially with the NHL Expansion Draft approaching.
The team already has Steven Stamkos, Ryan Callahan, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Brayden Point and Vladislav Namestnikov. While Point is exempt from the expansion draft, the rest are not and if the team wants to protect all of their forwards, the team might be better off moving the highly-regarded Drouin for blueline help. The team only has two defenders that stand out in Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman. So, another defender would make a lot of sense.
The Ducks could be a prime target as they are overloaded on defense, while they continue to look for consistent scoring. The team has multiple defensemen, including Hampus Lindholm, Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen, Josh Manson and veteran Kevin Bieksa as their core, but still have promising youngsters Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour, who have also played well for the team in the playoffs. Brooks writes that there may be six or more teams seeking a top-four defenseman this offseason, but Tampa Bay’s willingness to include Drouin gives them the best opportunity of netting one.
Cody Ceci’s in out op 4. Does that count?
Our top*
I think the Lightning would prefer to move him out west where he wouldn’t come back to haunt them as much
Especially to an Atlantic division rival. But there’s no way they’d trade him for Ceci anyways
Jeff Gorton pick up the damn phone and trade that bum Marc Staal
There’s no way the Lightning take Staal for Drouin. That wold make zero sense for the Lightning
Krug
Do they have the depth to give up krug?
Very much so in terms of talent, but not at all in terms of NHL proven talent. They have a lot of kids waiting in the wings but who knows who pans out. Especially with one of Mcquaid and the Millers likely to be taken in the expansion draft.
Chara, Carlo, McAvoy, 2 of McQuaid and the millers post expansion, JML, and sign 2 3rd pair guys for close to the minimum.
Olli Maatta
My habs have 2 2nd rounders this year and 3 next how about nathan beaulieu and a 2nd. Gives us a home town boy with scoring punch
I think the Lightning will be aiming higher than Beaulieu in a trade for Drouin. That’s not a knock on Beaulieu, but the Habs are a division rival of the Lightning and I don’t see the Lightning trading him within the division unless they get completely blown away. That’s why Anaheim makes sense as a trade partner. The Ducks have an abundance of defensemen and need offensive depth. If the Lightning trade Drouin there, he won’t have the opportunity to hurt them consistently. If they trade him within the division, Drouin can come back to haunt them several times a season. That’s why Yzerman will likely ship him out west
I read they r trading 2 of nathan beaulieu tomas plecanek and alex galchenyuk any way. Gally and nate could use a change of scenery and we have sergachev to take nates place
The Habs will have to eat some of Plekanec’s contract if they want to move him. His production doesn’t come close to his $6 million cap hit, even with only one year on his contract.
Klingberg for him???
Chris Taney and a 2nd rounder