Steve Yzerman: Drouin 'better served' by playing more junior hockey

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman explained the decision to send forward Jonathan Drouin back to the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL on Sunday afternoon, saying "we just feel he’s better served by playing another year of junior hockey."

Well, we think he’s an incredible talent, a very intelligent hockey player, great hockey sense, great vision ... I don’t want him being in and out of the lineup. I don’t want him playing limited minutes. Our assessment was he’s better off playing another year of junior hockey, hopefully playing for Canada at the world junior championships and developing there

Yzerman also addressed what the 18-year old needs to improve.

Getting adjusted to the NHL pace, playing the game at an NHL speed. For him, it's going to happen in time. Our biggest concern was ice time. Where is he going to play? Who is he going to play with? The way we’re set up up front, he's not going to get the minutes we want him to play, so it's best he goes back to junior.

Drouin will certainly see a fair share of ice time in Halifax, and should be featured prominently for Team Canada at the 2014 World Junior Hockey Championships in Sweden.