Jonathan Drouin’s future with the Tampa Bay Lightning looked particularly bleak at this point last year.
The third overall pick of the 2013 draft was unhappy in Tampa then amid inconsistent opportunities under head coach Jon Cooper and had requested a trade from the club in November. He was demoted to the American Hockey League by January and later suspended indefinitely without pay as trade speculation swirled.
The Lightning ultimately opted against dealing their frustrated winger ahead of the Feb. 29 trade deadline and by playoff time Drouin had emerged as a crucial element in the Bolts attack, totalling 14 points in 17 games en route to the club’s second straight Eastern Conference final.