New York Rangers Need To Tread Lightly On Jonathan Drouin

Unless you’re a hockey fan living under a rock the last week, you know the Tampa Bay Lightning are seeking to trade Jonathan Drouin, the No. 3 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. Drouin was one of the most hyped draft picks in the last decade, a player with all the talent and tools necessary to be a superstar. But he has fallen out of favor with the Lightning organization, specifically head coach Jon Cooper and general manager Steve Yzerman.

Now, it seems more than half the league has lined up to inquire about Drouin, especially the New York Rangers. The Rangers are not only seeking a top-six forward, but also a young potential superstar they can build around after Henrik Lundqvist’s best days are behind him.

On the surface, Drouin would be a perfect fit for this role. He is only 20 years old, gives the Rangers a legit scoring threat, assuming he gets enough playing time, and can give the Rangers a marquee presence on their front lines for a long time to come.

In reality, though, it is a major risk.

For one thing, one has to wonder exactly why Drouin’s bridges with the Lightning were burned. Drouin, in limited playing time over his first two seasons, has only scored four goals. He has shuttled back and forth between Tampa and the minors. Is it Cooper’s ego, burying him on the depth chart in favor of more experienced players, or is it Drouin’s attitude and work ethic? The truth lies somewhere in between.

The hot rumor right now is that the Rangers would trade Keith Yandle for Drouin. Yandle may inevitably be moved by the Rangers before the Feb. 29 trade deadline to clear cap space and maintain a first-round draft pick, but why would the Rangers do such a thing?

Right now, Drouin has proved absolutely nothing in the NHL. The talent and potential to become a complete player remains, but who knows whether or not he turns out to be a Steven Stamkos-like star, or an Alexandre Daigle-like bust? At this moment, Drouin has as much value as a late-round draft pick, a fringe prospect or a fourth-line forward.

If the Rangers are to trade Yandle, it is wise for them for acquire a proven top-six forward (like Jordan Eberle, as I discussed in a previous article). Trading Yandle for a total question mark is not only a trade simply for the sake of freeing up cap space, but it is like trading an iPod for a Zune. Remember how much “potential” the Zune had? Drouin could be like that. He’ll either realize his potential following a change of scenery, or prove his work ethic and attitude are what drove him out of Tampa.

The point is, if the Rangers want to take a chance on Drouin, they should be able to acquire him for Emerson Etem and/or a late-round draft pick, nothing more. Then, they can explore trading Yandle for a proven commodity. The Rangers shouldn’t allow Yzerman to fleece them.

Of course, the Rangers need to make all necessary inquiries on Drouin based on his potential alone. But because of all other unknown factors, they would be wise to tread lightly. If they get him, it needs to be at the right cost.

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