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.
Drouin was on the ice for the morning skate once again, but did not take part in line rushes, so it does not look like he will be making hi NHL debut tonight. The Lightning play tomorrow as well, so consider him questionable for Tuesday's matchup with the Devils.
Drouin is participating in practice this morning and reportedly taking part in shooting drills, which is a good sign as he works his way back from a fractured thumb. He is not at 100%, but he is getting close.
Head coach Jon Cooper said that Drouin was all but ruled out for Thursday, but with full participation today we will see if that changes after practice. Regardless, Drouin is on the brink of a return.
Drouin is at the two-week point in a three-four week timetable. Drouin was expected to miss a handful of games to start the season and that appears to still be the case. Monitor his status as the season approaches, but he will need to shed that no-contact jersey before he gets in the lineup.
Drouin will miss the start of the season, but should only miss a handful of games. This is a disappointing way for the rookie to start his season, but he will still be an electric difference maker for the Lightning this season. Don't let the injury hurt his draft stock .
Drouin was the third overall pick in this year's draft and had been playing on a line with Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis in the preseason, will not be fantasy relevant this season.
Drouin is still skating with St. Louis and Stamkos as he was at the start of training camp. If he can land this gig on the top-line, it would do a ton for his fantasy value. St. Louis and Stamkos finished first and second in scoring last season so there would be a lot of opportunity for Drouin to produce.
