Be great in act, as you have been thought. - from King John
Tampa Bay Lightning fans didn't know what to expect from defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.
The 19-year-old was traded to Tampa for Jonathan Drouin, who was supposed to be the next Steven Stamkos. Fans knew Drouin had tremendous upside and saw flashes of his speed and brilliance during the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Drouin was also an alleged problem in the locker room - already bumping heads with GM Steve Yzerman about wanting out of Tampa due to the organization sending Drouin down to the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, at the beginning of the 2016 season.
Yzerman saw it as a way for Drouin to get playing time and refine his skills instead of being lost in a shuffle of scorers.
Drouin saw it as disrespect.
Sports really is the ultimate soap opera.
Enter Sergachev.
Sergachev was Montreal's 9th overall pick in the 2016 Entry Level Draft. The scout's praised his fluid skating for a kid that's 6'3", 215 pounds. He's competitive, confident, a true two-way player, but he couldn't break into the Canadiens lineup - spending the majority of his 2016-2017 season with Montreal's OHL affiliate, the Windsor Spitfires.
Enter Drouin.
It seemed like Montreal was getting the better end of this deal. They were inheriting a proven scorer, a playoff veteran, and a presence to increase Montreal's power play.
Tampa didn't know what they were getting. Or did they?
Although Drouin has played one less game, trading for Sergachev is paying huge dividends.
Through nine games, Sergachev has three goals, five assists, and is a plus-three on the early season.
Drouin has two goals, three assists, and is a minus-five through eight.
Sergachev is shoring up a blue-line defense that was porous and a problem a season ago utilizing his speed and athleticism to slow the opposition down.
Yzerman is known as a mad scientist when it comes to situations and trades like these, but even he couldn't have scripted a better start, especially since Montreal is off to a horrendous 1-6-1 record, while the Lightning just dismantled the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champs 7-1 last night where Sergachev blasted in a power play goal.
The Bolts also have the best record and lead the NHL in points.
The season's early and anything can happen between now and May, but there's no denying Sergachev is having a positive impact on the Lightning's success.
For Sergachev and the Bolts, expectations are high.
No comments:
Post a Comment