Can you step through a door when a ship has already sailed? Probably not.
That’s the imagery combination we’re treated to regarding Jonathan Drouin after the Tampa Bay Lightning decided not to move him during the 2016 trade deadline.
Earlier on Monday, Bolts GM Steve Yzerman extended that peace offering, but TSN’s Frank Seravalli cites an anonymous source who said that the damage has already been done:
Drouin will not be returning to the Lightning. A source close to the situation said “that ship has sailed,” underlining that it is not a possibility.
Yzerman’s offer, which puts the onus back on Drouin, is believed to only include AHL Syracuse and not a return to the Lightning. No matter: even if the offer was extended to join the Lightning before their playoff run, Drouin is not believed to be interested.
The Tampa Tribune’s Erik Erlendsson backs that up while discussing doors:
It's out there now, but don't expect Drouin to come walking back through the door that was left open for him
— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) March 1, 2016
So there are at least three accounts against Drouin playing for the Lightning again: Seravalli’s report, that tweet from Erlendsson ... and common sense.