Everyone who thought Thursday would be just another normal day was pleasantly surprised in the afternoon.
For the second straight offseason, Montreal made a massive blockbuster trade by sending Mikhail Sergachev to Tampa along with a 2018 conditional 2nd-round pick for Jonathan Drouin and a 2018 conditional 6th-round pick.
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Sergachev was Montreal's 1st-round pick in 2016 while Drouin, a 22-year-old, recorded a career high 53 points this past season.
Once again the hockey world was caught off guard by the Habs, and the reactions across social media supported that.
Lightning have traded Drouin to Montreal. Here come the trades.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) June 15, 2017
Drouin had to be protected in expansion or lost. Sergachev does not. Lightning were facing losing a good player for nothing; now they don't.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) June 15, 2017
Also, Yzerman is a boss, mistakes and all https://t.co/7xeA8llIZj
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) June 15, 2017
Whatever you want to say about Steve Yzerman and Marc Bergevin, they have balls, or in the French, testicules. Bless GMs who aren't afraid
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) June 15, 2017
Montreal adds dynamic F in Drouin who will be a star there,But unless they changed minds and think Galchenyuk is a C,that position is a mess
— Ray Ferraro (@rayferrarotsn) June 15, 2017
before deadline / TBay in cap jail. Since then trade Boyle, Bishop, Filpula, Drouin...save room for bonus overages, acquire Sergachev
— Ray Ferraro (@rayferrarotsn) June 15, 2017
Two years in a row the #Redblacks are in Mtl in June when the #Habs swing a huge deal. Crazy crossover coincidence.
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) June 15, 2017
We have acquired Mikhail Sergachev & 2018 cond. 2nd rd pick from the @CanadiensMTL in exchange for Jonathan Drouin. https://t.co/EH5iNVAmyG
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 15, 2017
Have a feeling that Jonathan Drouin will be even more popular in Montreal than PK Subban
— Chris Cuthbert (@CCtsn) June 15, 2017
Montreal is going to love Jonathan Drouin.
— steve simmons (@simmonssteve) June 15, 2017
Another June blockbuster for the Habs https://t.co/i4xBHuhw50
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 15, 2017
Wow! Drouin to the @CanadiensMTL https://t.co/55ilHJMxxE
— Gino Reda (@GinoRedaTSN) June 15, 2017
Really interesting trade. Drouin makes his home in Montreal. #Bolts get a defenceman they think will make an impact. https://t.co/ROUwol4nZ6
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 15, 2017
The Canadiens acquire Jonathan Drouin + a cond. 6th-round pick (2018) from TBL, in return for M. Sergachev + a cond. 2nd-round pick (2018).
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 15, 2017
Condition on the picks in Tampa-Montreal trade is that if Sergachev plays 40 games for Bolts next season, there are no picks exchanged.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 15, 2017
If Sergachev doesn't play 40 games for the Bolts next season, then the picks are exchanged
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 15, 2017
Drouin is young, has a ton of talent, and will only get better. Losing Sergachev is heavy, but at least it's for a prime asset.
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) June 15, 2017
Drouin trade hits hockey Twitter like pic.twitter.com/VTzJz1s2O1
— Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) June 15, 2017
We *think* Sergachev might be really good, but we already *know* that Drouin is really good. Really like it from the Habs perspective.
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) June 15, 2017
Drouin is NOT expansion exempt & must be protected by the #Habs. Sergachev on the other hand is expansion exempt. Extra slot for #Lightning.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 15, 2017
Now, will Drouin have to switch from #27? Or will it be free by the time the season starts. #TSN690
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) June 15, 2017
Whatever happens with Drouin, remember this is the caliber of work that Yzerman does. I have faith he'll do what's best. Trust the Yzerplan. https://t.co/XIhAaRk4kk
— Saima (@Saima_1226) June 15, 2017
Drouin isn't that good... it's fair for both sides, Sergachev is an elite defensive prospect being traded for an NHL middle 6 forward.
— donny (@donnybrahgames) June 15, 2017
Omg we traded Drouin
— Josh (@StopBuntingPlz) June 15, 2017
We just got drouin what does that even mean
— Alex Bino (@alex_bino98) June 15, 2017
Drouin to the habs! pic.twitter.com/FKBMy2dG2Z
— Mark St. Lawrence (@Markamos43) June 15, 2017
Love it for Tampa. Always been smoke around Drouin there, and I'm a fan of Sergachev. That d-corp just gets better and better.
— DD (@TheDithyK) June 15, 2017
I mean, we need defenseman but for Drouin? Man, that's hard... especially to Montreal.
— Corey W. (@cwillandchill) June 15, 2017
Drouin is RFA. Potential stars coming off ELC usually get 5 or 6 x $6M, give or take $500K. So a range of $5.5M to $6.5M. No prob for MTL.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 15, 2017
TB, on other hand, couldn't handle that type of Drouin contract. Helps their cap; allows them to protect an extra F in expansion...
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 15, 2017
Habs plan to begin contracts talks with RFA Drouin ASAP. Don't want to waste any time with that.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 15, 2017
...and TB gets the young defenceman it has been looking for. Trading Tyler Johnson wouldn't get them a Sergachev. It had to be Drouin.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 15, 2017
Let the fun begin! #Drouin #Sergachev #NHLExpansionDraft #NHLDraft #Trades
— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) June 15, 2017
WE GOT DROUIN BABYYYY🔵⚪️🔴
— BellBrownBryant🙌🏽 (@KapJuKes) June 15, 2017
Trading him to another team in the division is horrible. It will come back and bite us in the ass. Drouin will score big goals against us
— Brian ⚡️⛳️ (@TBAY_Lightning) June 15, 2017
BERGEVIN DID SOMETHING!! WELCOME TO MTL DROUIN!!!!! #GoHabsGo
— ㅤㅤhow u drouin? (@noahfurz) June 15, 2017
I love Drouin he's really talented and dynamic but Yzerman pulled this off with his hands tied given the pending contract issues. Impressive https://t.co/KY0f42aVNq
— Patrick O'Sullivan (@realPOSULLIVAN) June 15, 2017
— Bryce (@DrouinGotTraded) June 15, 2017
— Bryce (@DrouinGotTraded) June 15, 2017
DROUIN NOOOOOOOOO 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 https://t.co/yrcRzsfoFP
— Thomas ⚡ (@tomsbolts) June 15, 2017
not drouin okay right now 🙃💔 pic.twitter.com/UKpntLxdv1
— Catherine 🐻💙⚡️ (@catisconfused) June 15, 2017
Habs want Radulov back but his current contract demands will have to change otherwise it won't happen
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 15, 2017
Whaaaaaat! Drouin to MTL! https://t.co/3TZZXvJw1w
— Cole Zimmerman (@coIesy) June 15, 2017
Hate to lose Sergachev. So much potential in that kid, but I am pretty stoked to get Drouin. I like this trade. #GoHabsGo
— Keith Malone (@Maloneington) June 15, 2017
The Jonathan Drouin trade got me like..... #Habs pic.twitter.com/JZGp2BLdqz
— Ryan Kuldys (@TheRealRKuldys) June 15, 2017
*spends hours on Expansion Draft Mock*
— Brock Seguin (@Brock_Seguin) June 15, 2017
*Drouin Trade* pic.twitter.com/WMrBFUNyyU
In my opinion, #TB wins this trade -- Purely from the standpoint that Drouin will spend more time in the dog house than on the ice. #NHL pic.twitter.com/ynA108jZ9e
— Jesse 🇩🇴 (@Jessemedscience) June 15, 2017
Trade values in NHL 17 for the Drouin Sergachev trade pic.twitter.com/xzPcynbbEX
— #NHL18 (@NHLGMMode) June 15, 2017
The last Quebec-born Montreal Canadiens superstar was Patrick Roy... no pressure on Jonathan Drouin... none #Habs #NHL
— Mike Le Couteur (@mikelecouteur) June 15, 2017
Habs steal Drouin!! WOW https://t.co/MGE5NrLxfP
— BaconCountry (@BaconCountryYT) June 15, 2017
Drouin isn't a bad pick up for the Habs but he's no Auston Matthews...or Mitch Marner...or William Nylander...or...#Leafs #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/ydFkZKG9Fe
— 🕷Darrell (@SpiderDarrell) June 15, 2017
Drouin for Sergachev? pic.twitter.com/aVcj1bR8WJ
— le_affan (@le_affan) June 15, 2017
#RIP Drouin to Stamkos GWGs pic.twitter.com/0uuDkNnL1d
— Thomas ⚡ (@tomsbolts) June 15, 2017
Jonathan Drouin has been traded to the Montreal Canadiens. A new chapter begins for Jonathan in Montreal.
— Allan Walsh (@walsha) June 15, 2017
Poor guy got a Lightning Drouin jersey YESTERDAY! pic.twitter.com/nd66xl0qTv
— Adam Forsythe (@adamforsythe) June 15, 2017
J.Drouin
— Tony Marinaro (@TonyMarinaro) June 15, 2017
- age 22
- versatile (wing & center)
- talented, creative playmaker
- will make PP & players around him better
- francophone star
Either Drouin's contract demands were astronomical or Yzerman is a closet Habs fan.
— Bolt Prospects (@BoltProspects) June 15, 2017
hi hello question
— The Leafs Nation (@TLNdc) June 15, 2017
is your GM allergic to good defencemen or
Thx for a great time Montreal https://t.co/IQ1rVpEwOq
— Mikhail Sergachev (@sergachev31) June 15, 2017
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Bienvenue à Montréal, Jonathan! / Welcome to Montreal, @jodrouin27! #GoHabsGo
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