You know, you never used to hear about players requesting trades in the NHL. Or maybe it’s just that in this day and age with every reporter plugged into Twitter and followed by in some cases millions, you hear about things you never used to. Still, the idea of a young player requesting a trade has been sort of taboo in hockey, which is very much a get-only-what-you’ve-earned, veterans-can-talk-rookies-can’t sport.
I was too young to remember the now-infamous Eric Lindros trade, which netted my Avs the second head of their two-headed monster (that being Peter Forsberg) and ultimately gave them pieces that would lead to two Stanley Cups in five years. That a young player, particularly one as talented as Lindros, would refuse to play for the team that drafted him was huge. So much so, in fact, that we are still talking about it more than the length of my lifetime (or 24 years if you want numbers) later.
Now while neither of Jonathan Drouin or Kerby Rychel would be considered the generational talent that Lindros was supposed to be at the time (and arguably was) both are promising young players, former first round picks, and largely considered a huge part of the future of their respective franchises.
And they both requested trades, which became public knowledge in the same weekend.
First, on Saturday Drouin’s trade request emerged in a story that stunned much of the hockey world. How often does a third overall pick request a trade not three seasons after being drafted?
Next, on Sunday, came news that Kerby Rychel had also requested a trade as far back as the summer months before training camp. The former 19th overall pick in 2013, the same year as Drouin, wanted out of Columbus.
Columbus is a losing organization, but it’s more than that. The Jackets have horribly mishandled Rychel, shuttling him back and forth from the minors. Still, you never used to see this kind of thing. It’s exciting, but odd.
On the other hand, some trade excitement might be just the thing we need in the winter doldrums.
Rob Mahon's Boardplay 