Tampa Bay Lightning give Jonathan Drouin chance for redemption

The Tampa Bay Lightning have called up Jonathan Drouin.

Earlier this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning had one of the most dramatic storylines that the NHL has seen in recent years. Forward Jonathan Drouin requested a trade in November through his agent.

Tampa Bay kept it private. In January, Drouin went public with it and was sent down to the American Hockey League. Later, Drouin refused to play for the Syracuse Crunch (the Lightning’s AHL team) and he was suspended indefinitely by the team.

Recently, Jonathan Drouin returned to the AHL and had success with the Crunch. With captain Steven Stamkos out indefinitely with a blood clot, the Lightning have called up the former first round pick.

Drouin will get a chance to win over his teammates, the fans, and the rest of the league as he will try to make people forget about the drama from earlier this season. He will join the second forward line as the right wing, meaning that he finally gets the top six forward role he reportedly wanted and was a factor in him demanding a trade.

To redeem himself, Drouin will have to remind everybody why he was the third overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He has eight points in 19 games this season, but he had 32 points in 70 games last season despite not seeing much ice time. Drouin will finally be getting an opportunity to get that ice time.

With Stamkos out, the Tampa Bay Lightning are willing to let bygones be bygones and forgive Drouin for the time being. Right now, the Tampa Bay Lightning need Drouin and Drouin needs the Tampa Bay Lightning. It would be an incredible redemption story if Drouin can help the Lightning overcome the loss of Stamkos and help them win a Stanley Cup.

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