Brooks: Rangers interested in Jonathan Drouin

Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/MCT

Per Larry Brooks, the Rangers are interested in Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin. Drouin requested a trade after what he felt was misuse by the organization. Drouin was initially returned to Juniors after being selected third overall in 2013, then was put in a role playing position on the team when he joined the Lightning.

Drouin is a hugely talented playmaker, with a line of 6-34-40 in 89 NHL games. He’s bounced all over the lineup, spending some time with Steven Stamkos on the top line as well. Drouin isn’t the big scorer the Rangers desperately need, but he’s a 20-year-old top-six winger that would be an instant upgrade on most forwards in the Rangers organization.

Brooks cites that the Rangers could part with Keith Yandle for him, but honestly I’m not sure that makes much sense from either team’s standpoint. The Rangers need Yandle, since he’s their only puck moving defenseman, and I doubt Tampa Bay moves Drouin for a pending UFA.

It is more likely that Tampa ships Drouin out west. It is also widely assumed that the Bolts will try to package Drouin with someone like Matt Carle, Jason Garrison, or Valtteri Filppula to get some much needed salary cap relief.

It’s good to see Jeff Gorton kicking the tires on Drouin, but it doesn’t look like the Rangers and the Lightning make good trading partners. Stranger things have happened though, that’s for sure.