The wait is over, and the pick is in! With the 3rd overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning selects left wing Jonathan Drouin of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; Jonathan Drouin poses for a photo with team executives as he is introduced as the number three overall pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
The 18 year-old Huberdeau, Quebec native played 49 games with the Mooseheads during the regular season. In that time, he found the back of the net 41 times along with 64 assists for a total of 105 points and a whopping plus-48 rating.
Along with fellow draft prospect Nathan MacKinnon, Drouin and the Mooseheads went into the post-season with a tidal force, ultimately winning the President’s Cup, the QMJHL equivalent of the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup.
During the post season, Drouin would score 12 goals and 23 assists to his already impressive numbers, totaling 23 points. Drouin maintained a plus-22 rating throughout the playoffs.
Jonathan Drouin has a very high hockey IQ. He is someone who can play in all situations, and is very aware of what is going on around him. He focuses on the play in front of him, and does what needs to be done to get that puck to the back of the net.
Who does this remind you of?
Drouin is very well liked among the NHL’s Scouting community. Dan Marr, the NHL Director of Central Scouting is rather impressed with Drouin.
"His hockey sense and playmaking abilities are just over the top. He’s one of those ‘thread the needle’ passers. He can be on the ice, and he can create a play out of nothing that’s there.”"
When the 2014-15 season comes to an end, longtime Lightning winger Martin St. Louis becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent, and at 40 years of age, the possibility of St. Louis choosing to hang up his skates becomes a real possibility.
If you have spent any amount of time watching Drouin on the ice, you know that his play style is eerily similar to Bolts right wing Martin St. Louis. There couldn’t be a better selection to step into those skates.
With the timing of this acquisition, Drouin will have a full 2 seasons get acquainted with the way the Lightning run their systems, and have an opportunity to learn from Marty himself.
Personally, I can’t wait until the Lightning’s Prospect Development Camp starts. I am very interested to see firsthand what Drouin is able to do on the ice.
What do you think of the Lightning’s first pick in this year’s draft? Do you think we will see Jonathan Drouin on the ice for the Lightning this season, or do you think Yzerman will send him back to the juniors for another season?
Stay tuned to Bolts By The Bay all day as we will have continuing coverage of the 2013 NHL Draft. We’ll keep you up to date on all the latest trade news, deal chatter, and most importantly the Lightning’s selections.
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