Drouin was bumped up to the Lightning’s third line with Valtteri Filppula and Cedric Paquette in the morning skate. He will take on an increased role with Connolly out of town, which should lead to more production. Drouin has two goals and 24 assists (26 points) in 53 games.
Drouin missed Saturday’s game with an illness, but is on the ice for warmups and it looks like he will play. He was listed as a game-time decision, but he skated this morning and his availability in warmups are both signs that he will play.
Drouin, who missed Saturday’s game, took part in the morning skate and will be a game-time decision tonight. All signs point towards him returning, but the Lightning want to make sure he doesn’t start feeling under the weather again closer to puck-drop.
Drouin missed Saturday’s game with an illness but is on the ice this morning which is a good sign that he will return to the lineup tonight vs. the Maple Leafs.
Drouin was sent home with a stomach virus this morning and will be held out of the lineup tonight. With Drouin out, Cedric Paquette will play on the top-line with Steven Stamkos and Brett Connolly.
Drouin was not on the ice for the Lightning’s morning skate because he was sent home sick this morning. Coach Cooper said that there is “no indication” that Drouin has the mumps. Expect an update on Drouin’s status a few hours prior to warmups.
Drouin has been in and out of the lineup recently and has only averaged 12:58 TOI in 23 games this season. He scored his second goal of the year last night and will bump up to the top line with Steven Stamkos and Ryan Callahan.
Drouin has had a difficult time staying in the lineup as of late. Tonight will mark the third time in seven games that the 2013 third overall pick will sit out. J.T Brown will be in for Drouin.
Drouin will be a healthy scratch for the second time in six games. The 19-year-old has nine points (1G / 8A) in 16 games this season. Vladimir Namestnikov will be back in the lineup.
Drouin hasn't gotten off to as hot a start as planned with 1 goal and 7 assists in 12 games.
Drouin owners got a preview of him on the first line with Steven Stamkos last week, but according to head coach Jon Cooper the plan all along was to ease him into the NHL, which is why he is currently on the third line. He played in the top-6 last week because of injuries up-and-down the lineup, but with healthy forwards returning, he will have to work his way back up.
This situation has been a roller-coaster all day long. Originally he was ruled out, then was a maybe when Alex Killorn went down in practice. After the skate, head coach Jon Cooper said Killorn was fine and Drouin would not play. Now, with warmups underway Killorn is not on the ice and Drouin is, so he will make his much anticipated debut.
This was supposed to be the case from the beginning, but when Alex Killorn left practice early, there was some speculation that Drouin may play for him. However, it turns out that Killorn is fine and will play, which means Drouin will have to wait to make his NHL debut. "Playing back to back Friday and Saturday plus traveling Sunday, [Drouin is] not going to play tonight," said head coach Jon Cooper.
Drouin did not take part in line rushes in the early part of the morning skate, but teammate Alex Killorn took a spill in practice and left the ice. Drouin took his spot on a line with Valtteri Filppula and Tyler Johnson, so if Killorn can't play expect Drouin to make his debut.
The third overall pick in the 2013 draft, Drouin, 19, had a goal, two assists and a plus-4 rating in his brief conditioning stint with Syracuse. He was assigned to Syracuse on Thursday to receive more live action to complete his recovery from a slight fracture in his right thumb sustained in September. The Lightning are in action on Monday night and it will likely be Drouin's NHL debut.
Drouin scored the game-winning goal in his AHL debut and has recorded one goal and two assists in his first two AHL games. He can only stay in the AHL for a maximum of two weeks, but he could be recalled sooner than expected if he continues to play at a high level.
Drouin said that his fractured thumb has healed and that he expects to play in Syracuse on Friday. Going to Syracuse is about Drouin getting his timing back and getting some game experience before he makes his NHL debut. He can stay in Syracuse for a maximum of two weeks and at this time there is no timetable for when he is expected to return to the Lightning.
Drouin suffered a fractured thumb in the preseason and has been working his way back from the injury and is believed to be close to returning. However, it looks like the Lightning will take a slow approach with Drouin and ease him back into playing with Syracuse before he makes his NHL debut.
Drouin will not play on Tuesday and has yet to participate in any contact drills. He stayed on late this morning and worked on faceoffs, so the rookie is getting closer. Contact is the next step in getting Drouin ready to make his NHL debut.
According to the Lightning coach, Drouin has one last check-up before he is cleared to make his NHL debut. The Lightning play tomorrow as well, so it sounds like he could be cleared to play on Tuesday. There is still no word on who Drouin will play with when he gets into the lineup.
