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Jonathan Drouin News
Drouin to take on a bigger role after Brett Connolly was traded.

Drouin was bumped up to the Lightning’s third line with Valtteri Filppula and Cedric Paquette in the morning skate. He will take on an increased role with Connolly out of town, which should lead to more production. Drouin has two goals and 24 assists (26 points) in 53 games.

Jonathan Drouin
Lightning trying to ease Jonathan Drouin into the NHL.

Drouin owners got a preview of him on the first line with Steven Stamkos last week, but according to head coach Jon Cooper the plan all along was to ease him into the NHL, which is why he is currently on the third line. He played in the top-6 last week because of injuries up-and-down the lineup, but with healthy forwards returning, he will have to work his way back up.

Jonathan Drouin
Drouin will make his NHL debut.

This situation has been a roller-coaster all day long. Originally he was ruled out, then was a maybe when Alex Killorn went down in practice. After the skate, head coach Jon Cooper said Killorn was fine and Drouin would not play. Now, with warmups underway Killorn is not on the ice and Drouin is, so he will make his much anticipated debut.

Jonathan Drouin
Drouin will not play on Monday.

This was supposed to be the case from the beginning, but when Alex Killorn left practice early, there was some speculation that Drouin may play for him. However, it turns out that Killorn is fine and will play, which means Drouin will have to wait to make his NHL debut. "Playing back to back Friday and Saturday plus traveling Sunday, [Drouin is] not going to play tonight," said head coach Jon Cooper.

Jonathan Drouin