Major development in Joanthan Drouin trade rumors.

It was not so long ago that Jonathan Drouin and his agent Allan Walsh issued a hostile trade demand to Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman, going so far as to refusing to report to the American Hockey League. 

Thursday in an email to ESPN insider Pierre LeBrun, Walsh was singing a very different tune, stating that the trade demand was officially rescinded with Drouin staying in Tampa.

"As Jo said at the end of the season, he wants to be back in Tampa next year,” Walsh said via email Thursday. "It's a tight-knit group, and going forward, he's happy being part of it."

Drouin demonstrated just how valuable a player he could be in the playoffs and it's unlikely that the source of his gripe with the club, playing in the AHL, will continue to be an issue after that performance. 

It's big news for the Lightning who are at risk of losing the face of their franchise Steven Stamkos this summer. While Drouin's ascension in no way makes Stamkos expendable, it would help to soften the blow especially with Nikita Kucherov also elevating his game. 

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