There are a lot of reasons to be unhappy if you are a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The team cannot gain traction on the season. The scoring has disappeared. Injuries continue. This year’s schedule seems to have more teeth than last year’s.
For goodness’ sake, is anybody happy?
The latest reason to ask is that talented Jonathan Drouin — evidently unhappy with his role — has asked to be traded. The response? Take a number.
It’s easy to understand Drouin’s request. He was the third pick in the draft, and others picked after him have seen their careers take off. It must be frustrating not to see a team wrap itself around your potential.
“We acknowledge, via communication from his agent, Jonathan Drouin’s request to be traded,” general manager Steve Yzerman said in a statement. “Moving forward, my sole intention is to act in the best interest of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey club. In the meantime, Jonathan has been assigned to our American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, and we expect him to report for practice with the rest of his teammates this Tuesday morning.”
But there is a bigger question here. Is this the sort of franchise where players want to play?
From the outside, you would think so. Coach Jon Cooper is very protective of his players, and Yzerman has built a solid team and a good farm system. Owner Jeff Vinik is admired throughout the league. Yzerman is a little dry, a little businesslike, but he doesn’t seem to be the bad guy.
But Marty St. Louis wanted out because he didn’t care for Yzerman. And the team still hasn’t concluded its contract negotiations with Steven Stamkos. And now Drouin.
Perhaps, these are isolated instances, coincidences brought forth by time circumstances.
Still, in a year already marked by disappointment, it’s unsettling that so many players are pulling in different directions.
