Lightning's Drouin on drop in playing time: 'Fourth line, third line, first line, it's still the NHL'

Highly touted rookie Jonathan Drouin will remain on the fourth line when the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.

Drouin was moved down to the fourth line with fellow rookies Cedric Paquette and Vladislav Namestnikov in the Tampa Bay Lightning's game against the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday. Though, the 19-year-old isn't fazed by seeing his ice time plummet more than seven minutes to 11:50 and his power-play ice time disappear.

"Everyone is a smart player on this team, so it's pretty easy to play with anyone," Drouin told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "Wherever I fit, wherever I have to  play, it's not a big deal. It's hard to complain. I've got some learning to do on a lot of stuff. Playing the fourth line, third line, first line, it's still the NHL."

Lightning coach Jon Cooper insists the team wasn't anticipating Drouin playing 20 minutes per game to start his NHL career, saying the third-overall selection from 2013 needs to improve his play away from the puck in order to move up on the depth chart. According to Cooper, injuries were the reason for Drouin's increased role to start the year.

"You play him on a different line it takes a little bit of pressure off him, and just guiding him into where he's hopefully going to end up," Cooper said. "I don't know too many people who jump into the league at 19 (years old) and are playing 22 minutes a night, it just doesn't really happen."

Drouin received some guidance on the subject from fellow top pick Steven Stamkos, who had to find his way in his rookie season but has since matured into arguably the best goal-scorer in the league.

"He went through it, so it's not only me that's going through that stuff," Drouin said. "It's part of the process, and it's not me who makes the decisions."