Canadiens acquire Jonathan Drouin from Lightning
The Montreal Canadiens made the first big splash of the 2017 NHL offseason, acquiring Jonathan Drouin from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
According to the team’s official Twitter, the Montreal Canadiens have acquired young forward Jonathan Drouin and a conditional sixth-round pick in 2018 from the Tampa Bay Lightning, in exchange for defensive prospect Mikhail Sergachev and a conditional second-rounder.
The Canadiens acquire Jonathan Drouin + a cond. 6th-round pick (2018) from TBL, in return for M. Sergachev + a cond. 2nd-round pick (2018).
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 15, 2017
Rumors that the Habs were negotiating a deal for Drouin swirled over the past few days, with some reports suggesting they were offering Alex Galchenyuk to Tampa. Instead, they’ve parted with arguably their most highly-touted prospect in order to get the 22-year-old Drouin.
In 73 games for the Lightning this year, Drouin recorded 21 goals and 32 assists (53 points) as they failed to make the playoffs. The young winger has had a bumpy relationship with general manager Steve Yzerman, sent to the AHL last year after requesting a trade.
The Bolts picked Drouin third overall in the 2013 draft, after a very successful junior career with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads.
Sergachev was Montreal’s ninth pick in the most recent (2016) NHL draft. He was considered one of the most talented defensemen available, with his 6-foot-3, 212-pound frame. He appeared in four games for the Habs this season before being sent back to his junior team, the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.
Just recently, Sergachev helped the Spitfires go undefeated at the 2017 Memorial Cup to win Canada’s top junior hockey trophy, beating their OHL rival Erie Otters in the final. He contributed 43 points for Windsor this season.
While Sergachev was the Canadiens’ top blueline prospect, the cupboard isn’t completely bare. 2015 pick Noah Juulsen is still in the pipeline, and the team likely sees him as a future member of their lineup.
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Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin will hope that Drouin provides more immediate help to the Habs’ forward core. The team finished first in the Atlantic Division this season, but they struggled to score in the playoffs as they fell to the New York Rangers in the opening round. Drouin could complement players like Max Pacioretty and Galchenyuk.