Confirmed with Link: Avs sign Jonathan Drouin (1 year, 825k)

[The Abusement Park]

Personally, I'm fine with the way Colton has played. He can and probably will play better but I really like the look and feel of that 3rd line whether it's been Tatar or Drouin with them.

For me, it's not always just 'how many points are they putting up / how are they contributing offensively' that makes the difference. They are just not a fun line for other teams to play against. That line comes out and you know that Wood is going to forecheck the crap out of the other team and if our opponent gets possession in their zone - you know they are likely going to take some hits which can cause turnovers and opportunities. In time, Bednar could probably sub-in LOC late in games when he has to shorten his bench to create a nightmare line for the other side. O'Connor has had a fantastic start to the season (SHG notwithstanding) he's been extremely good on the forecheck and playing his butt off.

Having that kind of 'nightmare line' is what this team has been severely lacking for a long, long time as our typical 3rd / 4th line have been too easy to play against over the years as it was mostly made up of the same type of 5'11'' skill-ish player that would provide very little if they didn't produce on the scoreboard.

I mean…. getting depth that can’t score was a major problem last year and(it’s a small sample size) is currently a problem. Them being heavy fore checkers is nice and all… but 29/96/8 can’t score every game. If Wood and Colton can’t put up 30-35pts that’s going to be a problem.

 

[S E P H]

I think it is a matter of time until Walsh photoshops Bednar in a devil costume and complains about the lack of powerplay time for his client on Twitter.

 

[Foppa2118]

Drouin is tied for 1st on the team in 5v5 High Danger Chances and 4th in 5v5 Expected Goals (xGF) and that doesn't even include passing plays.

High Danger Chances For (5v5)

MacKinnon - 9
Drouin - 9
Lehkonen - 8
Rantanen - 7
Nichuskin - 7
Johansen - 7
Colton - 6

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Coyotes are legit. SJ and Ducks are the new wastelands of the NHL.

California baby

Drouin is tied for 1st on the team in 5v5 High Danger Chances and 4th in 5v5 Expected Goals (xGF) and that doesn't even include passing plays.

High Danger Chances For (5v5)

MacKinnon - 9
Drouin - 9
Lehkonen - 8
Rantanen - 7
Nichuskin - 7
Johansen - 7
Colton - 6

It seems like our third line has been very unlucky. Basically everyone we bought this summer has been way under expectation.

 

[Pokecheque]

The third line still feels very disjointed. I’m not sure what it is but they just look…sloppy out there. Not that the rest of the team hasn’t (especially the last two games).

Still early yet but so far it hasn’t been great.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Both Drouin and Colton are a bit confusing to me. They both more or less appear to be playing the game the right way. Drouin is a bit more of a floater but still. They have generated plenty of chances, so I think the goals should come at some point, but that's the rub. At what point should I start to be concerned.

To be honest, because of the cost I have no concerns about Drouin. He'll either work out or he won't. Colton though has more invested in him by the Avs. I'm really hoping this is just an adjustment for him and that production will pick up a bit.

The third line still feels very disjointed. I’m not sure what it is but they just look…sloppy out there. Not that the rest of the team hasn’t (especially the last two games).

Still early yet but so far it hasn’t been great.

I agree...but I also thought Wood and Colton looked great the first couple of games. The production wasn't there but they were flying and being disruptive. They were noticeable, in a good way, even without appearing on the scoresheet. Not so much the last half dozen games.

 

[Balthazar]

Skated on the MacDermid line today so he could be out of the lineup soon.

Someone said the other day that Drouin was this year's Galchenyuk and it's starting to look like it.

 

[Guess]

Habs fan here, not gonna say I told you so but..

Anyways, not like it cost you guys anything to get him.

 

[Spilot23]

Habs fan here, not gonna say I told you so but..

Anyways, not like it cost you guys anything to get him.

What I agree with Habs fans is the wrist thing. Seems like he can't shoot or has an even more muffin shot than Girard. But alot of Habs fans said he was allergic to contact. I think he has been fine going in the dirty areas and play along the boards. IMO he just wants to be a playmaker. He won't do anything in the PP beside trying to set up which leads in 0 chance or passes getting intercepted made me mad considering at some point he took Rantanen's spot while he played behind the net. On the other side I think he has been the one creating chances in the 3rd line. To me if there's finger to point I was expecting more offensively from Tatar and Colton.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Habs fan here, not gonna say I told you so but..

Anyways, not like it cost you guys anything to get him.

He was a boom or bust signing for league min. It was a great signing and I have no regrets. Also, he has been better than his one assist shows.

 

[S E P H]

Habs fan here, not gonna say I told you so but..

Anyways, not like it cost you guys anything to get him.

Not really, he had a great training camp and a great preseason in the games he played in. The problem is our head coach wants specific traits which isn't Drouin. Bednar wants Landeskog-type of players up and down the line up and Drouin wasn't ever going to become that. Drouin is barely getting any powerplay time as well, which is hurting where he would shine the best. I sort of blame our head coach for using him inappropriately, but most of us knew that Drouin wasn't going to make a huge difference now.

 

[Pokecheque]

Drouin just might not be an NHL player anymore. I don't think he could've been given a better chance to prove otherwise, and I certainly don't blame the Avs for taking a low-risk gamble on him.

 

[JH21]

Skated on the MacDermid line today so he could be out of the lineup soon.

Someone said the other day that Drouin was this year's Galchenyuk and it's starting to look like it.

That was me. And I got slammed for it.

I gave him 10 games until he is eating nachos.

He was a boom or bust signing for league min. It was a great signing and I have no regrets. Also, he has been better than his one assist shows.

How was is a great signing? He has done nothing. It was basically a PTO type deal.

He won't be on the team much longer.

Under Bednar you better create offense to be on the top 6 or be a forechecking menace to play on the bottom 6. Drouin does neither.

 

[Pokecheque]

It was a glorified PTO, much like Nichushkin's was. Unfortunately this time around lightning didn't strike twice.

Can't fault the Avs for trying, and I'm fairly confident Drouin has tried his best, it's just not good enough.

 

[Guess]

Not really, he had a great training camp and a great preseason in the games he played in. The problem is our head coach wants specific traits which isn't Drouin. Bednar wants Landeskog-type of players up and down the line up and Drouin wasn't ever going to become that. Drouin is barely getting any powerplay time as well, which is hurting where he would shine the best. I sort of blame our head coach for using him inappropriately, but most of us knew that Drouin wasn't going to make a huge difference now.

Ah gotcha, thanks for the clarification!

 

[Pokecheque]

Ah gotcha, thanks for the clarification!

Don't listen to him, he's often wrong, and he absolutely is here. In no way, shape, or form did Bednar expect Drouin to play like Landeskog.

 

[Ceremony]

I think he's been alright and should have got more than one and a half games on the top line to try and actually fit in.

 

[Pokecheque]

I think he's been alright and should have got more than one and a half games on the top line to try and actually fit in.

EDIT:

A Habs fan friend pointed out to me, his wrists have been injured to the point that his shot is all but destroyed and he's just not connecting on passes like he used to. He's also lost a step so that getting that little extra separation in order to make plays doesn't appear to be there either.

That makes for an "alright" player but he needs to be more than that. We'll see if that ends up happening but I'm not that bullish on his chances.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Habs fan here, not gonna say I told you so but..

Anyways, not like it cost you guys anything to get him.

Just keep in mind the things we told you about Newhooo as well

Quite frankly I would say both players are doing about as expected. Newhook is lost at Center but showed some promise on the Wing.

Drouin has flashed his skills plenty and getting opportunities but simply failing to cash in at a meaningful level.


Ultimately, 8 games is still not a significant number either way for either guy yet. Check back in after Christmas sort of thing.

 

[S E P H]

Don't listen to him, he's often wrong, and he absolutely is here. In no way, shape, or form did Bednar expect Drouin to play like Landeskog.

What? I mentioned that Bednar prefers Landeskog players, I never implied Drouin was one. That's why Tatar and Drouin are being scratched today while Wood and Colton do their thing when the former two have been better than the latter two.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Getting what they paid for with Drouin.

 

[lionsDen]

Drouin is tied for 1st on the team in 5v5 High Danger Chances and 4th in 5v5 Expected Goals (xGF) and that doesn't even include passing plays.

High Danger Chances For (5v5)

MacKinnon - 9
Drouin - 9
Lehkonen - 8
Rantanen - 7
Nichuskin - 7
Johansen - 7
Colton - 6

Well if his analytics are that good what is it Bernard doesn’t like?

 

[Foppa2118]

Well if his analytics are that good what is it Bernard doesn’t like?

I just talked about this in another post, but he's sending the message early to Drouin and the entire team, not to get comfortable. They have expectations again this year, and he wants them playing the right way.

He hasn't been playing as poorly as people here suggest. This place is just so over the top with it's reactions. Him leading the team in high danger chances doesn't come as a surprise to anyone. We've all seen him get a ton of grade A chances, but he's just not finishing them.

That's concerning about whether his wrists will ever improve enough or if he will always have the same problems with his shot, but he could also break out of his slump one game and start putting up numbers. This is not an easy system to adjust to. It takes lots of time for everyone.

The main thing Bednar doesn't like isn't the lack of production. It's the lack of forechecking. That's a requirement for every forward for his system to work and Drouin hasn't been doing it consistently. This is an early message as to how big a priority it is.

 

[lionsDen]

I just talked about this in another post, but he's sending the message early to Drouin and the entire team, not to get comfortable. They have expectations again this year, and he wants them playing the right way.

He hasn't been playing as poorly as people here suggest. This place is just so over the top with it's reactions. Him leading the team in high danger chances doesn't come as a surprise to anyone. We've all seen him get a ton of grade A chances, but he's just not finishing them.

That's concerning about whether his wrists will ever improve enough or if he will always have the same problems with his shot, but he could also break out of his slump one game and start putting up numbers. This is not an easy system to adjust to. It takes lots of time for everyone.

The main thing Bednar doesn't like isn't the lack of production. It's the lack of forechecking. That's a requirement for every forward for his system to work and Drouin hasn't been doing it consistently. This is an early message as to how big a priority it is.

Unfortunately this year I ain’t got to see all the games. Good stuff. Let’s see how they react

 

[The Kingslayer]

Get that passport ready. Riley Tufte has taken your job.