Steve Yzerman feels there is a “very realistic” chance that Jonathan Drouin could rejoin the Tampa Bay Lightning by the end of the regular season.

Whether Drouin’s play with Tampa Bay’s farm team in Syracuse will be worthy enough for such a move to be made, well, that remains to be seen.

After being sent to Syracuse earlier this year, Drouin was suspended by the Lightning after he refused to report to an AHL game on Jan. 20. When his request to be moved to another organization was not fulfilled by the NHL’s Feb. 29 trade deadline, Drouin opted to end his self-imposed holdout and returned to the Crunch last week.

Since coming back to the Crunch, Drouin has three points in three games. More importantly, his play has caught the attention of Yzerman, who has refused to adhere to Drouin’s demands throughout this entire situation.

Yzerman did not attend those Crunch games in person, but watched them closely via the AHL’s web site.

“I thought considering the length of time he was out, he looked good,” Yzerman said Tuesday at the NHL’s annual spring GM’s meetings. “His conditioning was good, his speed was good, he played well.

“Ultimately I go back to when he was first assigned to the AHL. It wasn’t a demotion, it was simply to go down ... as conditioning to get some games after missing a lot due to injury.

“The plan was for him to go down and play and come back, so with the situation right now, if it is good for our team and it is the right thing to do, he will be recalled. So it’s very realistic.”

Drouin, the No. 3 pick in the 2013 NHL draft, had eight points in 19 games with the Lightning before being sent to Syracuse. In the process, there has been plenty of speculation that he and Lightning coach Jon Cooper do not see eye to eye, although Tampa Bay officials have denied any such animosity exists.

Yzerman said any decision involving Drouin moving forward will strictly be based on what is in the best interest of the Lightning.

“We’re trying to clinch a playoff spot right now and hopefully we can do that and then ultimately be successful in the playoffs,” he said. “I think it’s my responsibility to make any decision based on what’s going to help us, 1) make the playoffs and, 2) win in the playoffs.”

Asked about his handling of the entire Drouin situation the past few months, Yzerman replied: “My feeling was, my first responsibility was to the organization, what is the right thing to do for us, and what’s going to make us a better team. I try to act on that basis and make my decision according to that and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”

Stay tuned.

TALLON CONCERNED ABOUT EXPANSION DRAFT

With the debate over a potential expansion draft looming on the agenda for Wednesday at the NHL’s annual spring GM meetings, there is one pressing thought on Dale Tallon’s mind.

How will such a format affect his Florida Panthers?

You have to figure he’s not alone when it comes to the various general managers wondering how a potential expansion franchise in Las Vegas and/or Quebec City might influence the roster of their own team.

“I’m concerned about the Florida Panthers,” Tallon said Wednesday. “I want to make sure that I can protect what we have built up here.

“It’s taken a long hard hours. We see a bright future. I don’t want that taken away from us.”

Let the debate begin.

mzeisberger@postmedia.com

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