Quick Strikes for January 12th, 2016

• The Jonathan Drouin rumor mill will keep going forever, it seems, but fans need to keep in mind that Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman will “settle for nothing less than equal value for Drouin.” [The Hockey News]
• Elliotte Friedman says St. Louis, others in on the Drouin train. [Today’s Slapshot]
• But, wait! Don’t trade Robby Fabbri for Drouin. [St. Louis Game Time]
• While scouts look on, Drouin starts to fine-tune his game with Syracuse. [Syracuse.com]
• The Crunch’s season stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail. [Chirps from Center Ice]
• In case you missed it, Crunch goalie Kristers Gudlevskis showed exactly why he’s been named to the AHL All-Star team this past Sunday. [Syracuse.com]
• Crunch defenseman Anthony DeAngelo has been a healthy scratch three times this season under rather secretive circumstances. Whatever’s going on with the defenseman needs to be solved soon. [Syracuse.com]
• The Crunch are again participating in a Change for Change initiative this season, and are hoping to raise even more than last season with an extended campaign. Change for Change is an initiative created by Crunch Captain Mike Angelidis and his teammates that aims to raise money for pediatric cancer research at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital and help improve the odds for children with cancer. All TampaCuse fans can help out by donating through their Go Fund Me page.
• The AHL All-Star Classic is coming up quick. Tickets are still available. Here’s a complete list of the players headed to Syracuse for the weekend.
• It’s been reported than the NHL is going to alter all-star fan voting in the wake of the John Scott selection. [CBS Sports]
• Greg Wyshynski makes the potentially controversial claim that Alex Ovechkin now is better than Wayne Gretzky was then. [Puck Daddy]
• Hockey tidbits: Dallas Eakins tried to make the Edmonton Oilers grow up too fast, Ovechkin’s kid-like quality is adorable, and the AHL is way different than most NHL professionals would ever expect. [Today’s Slapshot]
• The St. Louis Blues have had a lot of injured players lately, but which one has been the worst? [St. Louis Game Time]
• It’s almost the mid-point of the NHL’s season, so how are the Arizona Coyotes‘ summer acquisitions doing? [Five for Howling]
• Speaking of injuries, the injury to Oscar Klefbom of the Oilers has had the biggest impact on the club. [Copper & Blue]
• The Habs’ lack of controlled exits are hurting their scoring chances. [Eyes on the Prize]
• NHL defenseman Robyn Regehr returns to Calgary to retire as a Flame. [Calgary Harold]
• Potentially difficult times lie ahead for the Winnipeg Jets, and it’s either time to extend GM Kevin Chevledayoff or send him on his way. [Arctic Ice Hockey]
• Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick is the National Sportscaster of the Year for the third straight year. [NSSA]

In the Jonathan Drouin affair, I side with . . .