TAMPA — When touted wing Jonathan Drouin was dropped from the top line to the bottom lines last week, it was surprising.
It even inspired a popular hashtag by fans on Twitter: #FreeDrouin.
After all, Drouin, 19, had impressed in his first week in the NHL, forming good chemistry with Steven Stamkos on the top line and averaging more than 18 minutes in his first four games, all on the road. You saw why Drouin was rated the game's top prospect, from his stickhandling and playmaking to his competitiveness, plus poise beyond his years.
So when Drouin played just 22 minutes combined in his first two home games Tuesday and Thursday, including no action on the power play, it was a bit curious.
Coach Jon Cooper said Drouin played so much in his the first four games out of necessity, with Ryan Callahan and Alex Killorn injured. The plan all along was for Drouin, 2013's No. 3 overall draft pick, to be eased in. Cooper believed that by putting him on a lower line, it would take some pressure off. And as dazzling as Drouin is with the puck, Cooper wants him to play better away from it, including in his zone, which he has been pretty good at other than a bad turnover in Minnesota that led to a goal.
The rationale makes sense — not many 19-year-olds come into the NHL and play 20 minutes right away — though it's a tough to make a case that with Drouin's offensive skills, he should be shut out of the power play.
Give Drouin credit for handling it well: "It's not only me that's going through that stuff."
Drouin's best friend, Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon, played fewer than 11 minutes in three of his first nine games last season on his way to winning the Calder Trophy as top rookie. Ex-Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk recalled being a healthy scratch his second season with the Sabres, thinking Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman didn't want him to get too comfortable. Initially stunned, Andreychuk believed it helped him.
Stamkos played just 6 minutes in his home debut after being the top pick in 2008. "For me it was frustrating at times, especially early in my career when I wasn't playing that much," he said. "But you learn pretty quick that you don't really have much say other than what you do on the ice. (Drouin is) going to get his opportunity, and I'm pretty sure he's going to be a very good player in this league when he does."
Drouin seems like a perfect match for Stamkos, potentially becoming the type of partner Marty St. Louis was for so many years. Stamkos thinks they can be a great combo: "He's a playmaker. For me, as a guy who is known to score goals, down the road that's going to work out. Eventually it'll get to that point."
It's just a matter of time.