Jonathan Drouin is back making headlines, but the Tampa Bay Lightning haven't traded him or recalled him from the minors.
Instead, the NHL team has suspended the 20-year-old Syracuse Crunch winger without pay for failing to report for Wednesday night's American Hockey League game against the Marlies in Toronto, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said through a team news release.
"The team will make no further comment at this time," the release also stated.
Drouin has been with the Crunch since early January and soon after he reported his agent, Allan Walsh, went public with a standing request for a trade from November.
"You try to focus on your game and the rest will settle itself," Drouin told reporters on Monday.
Walsh issued the following statement to the media Wednesday evening:
"When the Tampa Bay Lightning assigned Jonathan Drouin to Syracuse it was explained the purpose of the assignment was two-fold; (1) conditioning due to missed games from injury and (2) provide proof that he had completely recovered from his injury. Jonathan has now played seven games with Syracuse in the past (14) days.
"A few days ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning advised that a trade involving Jonathan was moving closer to completion. We proposed to Tampa that Jonathan not play in the next few AHL games but continue practising with the club to avoid any potential injury from preventing an imminent trade. Unfortunately, the Tampa Bay Lightning refused this reasonable request, however, Jonathan was not willing to accept this risk. We have been advised that the Tampa Bay Lightning has suspended Jonathan.
"In light of the latest developments, it is clearly in both sides best interests that the Tampa Bay Lightning trade Jonathan as there is no reason for Jonathan to continue with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization in any capacity. We will have no further comment as we await the Tampa Bay Lightning to conclude a trade that involves Jonathan."
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