The expectation is that in the very near future, Jonathan Drouin will join the Lightning and instantly be associated with #27 the way Steven Stamkos is with #91 and Vincent Lecavalier was with #4. That remains to be seen and what carries favor over what might be is what once was. Which takes us back once again to history where we find centerman Tim Taylor. He came to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2001, known for not much beyond a proficiency for winning faceoffs. He ended up contributing much more as a leader.
Taylor was drafted in the second round of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft (36th overall) by the Washington Capitals. After eight seasons in the minors, with stops at London, Baltimore, Hamilton and Adirondack, he eventually played his first NHL game with the Detroit Red Wings in 1994; one game, in which he scored a goal and was a -1. A proficient scorer in the minors, twice recording over 100 points in a season, he never scored more than 31 points in any of his 13 NHL seasons. He would play three more seasons in Detroit, winning a Stanley Cup with the red Wings in 1997, before being claimed off waivers by the Boston Bruins. After two years he moved on to the New York Rangers and was traded to the Lightning for Kyle Freadrich and Nils Ekman on June 30, 2001.
Upon his arrival in Tampa Bay, he assumed a leadership role, serving as captain Dave Andreychuk’s main lieutenant. He proved to be instrumental in helping Andreychuk implement a new culture of pride and accountability with a young team that would go on to win the Stanley Cup in 2004. He took over as captain upon Andreychuk’s departure in 2006. His career ended after the 2006-07 season when he underwent surgery to correct hip dysplasia and missed the 07-08 season.
Taylor is married with two children and is now the Director of Player Development for the St. Louis Blues.
Others to wear #27 include Stan Drulia, Jim Cummins, Brantt Myhres, Alexander Semak, David Shaw, Brent Peterson, Colin Forbes, Jassen Cullimore, Steve Martins, Sheldon Keefe, Brandon Bochenski and Bruno Gervais.
