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Lightning's Drouin earns shot on top line

 
“I had to prove that I could fit,” says rookie Jonathan Drouin, who has been moved to the top line with Steven Stamkos.
“I had to prove that I could fit,” says rookie Jonathan Drouin, who has been moved to the top line with Steven Stamkos.
Published March 22, 2015

TAMPA

Though rookie wing Jonathan Drouin entered this season as the game's top prospect, the Lightning made it clear this would be a meritocracy.

"That's the first thing they told me, nothing is really given," Drouin said. "You're going to earn your ice time, earn your power play."

It's been a long, humbling process for the 2013 No. 3 overall draft pick — one that has included being a healthy scratch four times — but Drouin is finally reaping the rewards of his hard work.

Drouin was put on the top line with star Steven Stamkos midway through Friday's 3-1 win over Detroit, and he helped set up the go-ahead goal. Drouin stayed with the first line in Saturday's practice. That's where he'll likely start tonight's showdown against the Bruins at Amalie Arena.

The kid has earned it.

"A lot of the things he wasn't doing the first three-quarters of the year, he's starting to do now," coach Jon Cooper said. "He's deserving. He's earning his ice time that he's getting. He's just learning the pro game, learning the way we play, finding himself on the right side of pucks.

"He made a conscious effort and choice to work his way up the lineup, and his effort has been outstanding. He's listening; he's been soaking up the game. And it's actually been a lot of fun to watch this kid grow."

Drouin won't win the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie, and his numbers aren't eye-popping (two goals, 26 assists, plus-4 in 61 games). But Drouin is playing with a lot of confidence, is creating scoring chances and is responsible at both ends.

Drouin can be a magician with the puck. His vision and play-making ability made it seem inevitable he'd end up being a perfect pair with Stamkos, one of the league's top scorers. But though Drouin got a cameo on Stamkos' line in his first week in the NHL in October, he says he's a lot more prepared now.

"Definitely confidence-wise I'm more ready to jump into that role than I was at the beginning of the year," Drouin said. "I had to prove that I could fit."

A dazzling offensive force in juniors, Drouin had to learn how to play without the puck. The Lightning tried to bring him along slowly, giving him limited minutes on the third and fourth lines. Drouin was a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. It was a big adjustment. Used to playing 20-plus minutes in juniors, Drouin was playing nine, 10, 11, making sure "every shift was a good shift."

Drouin and Stamkos are a good fit, complemented well by Killorn, a 6-foot-2, 193-pound power forward who can do it all, including retrieve pucks and play big in dirty areas. Ryan Callahan, whom Drouin replaced, has good chemistry with Valtteri Filppula on his new line.

Give Drouin time to acclimate with Stamkos and Killorn down the stretch and he could be another weapon on an already deep team come playoff time. He just had to wait his turn.

"It's tough," Stamkos said. "You want things to happen right away. A lot of times that's not the case. But as long as you're staying positive, working hard, you're going to get your opportunity. And for Jo, it's now, in a critical part of the season into the playoffs. If we can get the game going and get some chemistry, it'll only benefit our team."

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Contact Joe Smith at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.