Drouin awaits potential trade from Lightning

Jonathan Drouin continues to wait for a possible trade two weeks after the Tampa Bay Lightning forward was demoted to the American Hockey League and a request made in November became public.

"I don't really decide. It's up to them (Tampa Bay)," Drouin told Syracuse.com after playing his fifth AHL game Friday. "But we'll see what happens the next couple days."

As of late Friday, no deal had been reached by Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman, who last week acknowledged Drouin's request but said he would trade him only if it improved the Lightning on the ice moving forward.

"I'm just saying we'll see what's going on, and ... if I go up or get traded," Drouin said. "So, I'll see how it goes."

Drouin, a 20-year-old left wing who was the No. 3 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, struggled to earn consistent ice time and a defined role under coach Jon Cooper in two seasons with Tampa Bay. He had 32 points (four goals, 28 assists) in 70 games as a rookie but did not have a point playing in six of the Lightning's 26 games in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Drouin had six points (one goal, five assists) in his first five games this season but missed 19 games because of injuries and had two points in his past 14 NHL games. He was demoted to Syracuse on Jan. 2; a trade request made on his behalf by his agent was revealed the next day.

"I'm just here to play hockey like I said the first day (in Syracuse)," Drouin said. "When it happens it happens. I'm here to just play my game."

Drouin has two goals and 15 shots on goal in five games with Syracuse; he does not have a point in his past four.

"I'm happy with my play [overall]," Drouin said after a 3-1 loss to Utica. "I'm here to work on my game. I think I'm working on it. Definitely a couple of areas [to improve], so overall I like the way I've been playing.

"Right now, I'm not concentrating on stats. It doesn't really matter if I score two or get zero. I'm working on my game, make sure I'm playing the right way, and it's all I can control right now."