Jonathan Drouin has a standing offer to return to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, but that reportedly isn't going to happen.
“That ship has sailed," a source close to the situation told TSN's Frank Seravalli, mere hours after Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said "the door is open" for Drouin to return, but that the onus is on the player.
Servalli's source stressed Drouin's return is not a possibility, and Yzerman's offer is reportedly believed to only include the Syracuse Crunch, the club's AHL affiliate.
Even if the the offer included a chance to return to the Lightning before the playoffs, Servalli reports Drouin isn't believed to be interested.
The 20-year-old forward was suspended indefinitely without pay by the Lightning for failing to report to a game with the Crunch last month.
Yzerman elected not to trade Drouin, despite garnering plenty of interest from around the league, saying it "made no sense" to deal him for a rental player that he couldn't or wouldn't want to re-sign.
Drouin has been skating in the Montreal area with his former midget team while awaiting a deal. He could still be traded before the end of the season, but any team acquiring him wouldn't be able to use him in the playoffs.
The 2013 third overall pick could also be dealt at the draft, which takes place in Buffalo on June 24 and 25.
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Yzerman holds all the cards with Drouin’s career at this point. Drouin needs to show that he can work within his contract and maybe that will entice a team to meet the high expectations the Lightning have on trade returns.
I think Drouin has hurt his own cause by not playing through this ordeal.
I guess time will tell. The longer this goes, the less Yzerman will be able to get for Drouin… catch 22.