In Drouin's later seasons, I kept repeating on the habs board that if you look at Drouin as a middle six winger, then he is effective in his role.
After a couple of seasons with the habs, it was apparent that he did not have the consistency from game to game to be a top 6 or top line player. Once my expectations were adjusted, he did a good job in that tweener role.
He'll go stretches with points and other stretches without. Many teams have players like this, and to a certain extent, every team needs to fill out their roster with guys like this.
Avs have the luxury to not rely on Drouin. Habs didn't have that luxury which I guess is what frustrated fans.
Yeah. Calling him "not an NHLer" is just a bridge too far. It's hyperbole because he's very underwhelming. He's not a real quality play-driving Top-6er, but he's still a capable NHLer (when he's healthy, and motivated, etc.).
But lots of teams have players like him. Guys who just sorta hang around the Top-9 and fill a complementary "offensive-oriented utility role". Riding shotgun to better players. Disappointing but not altogether pathetic production. It does suck and become annoying to watch, because he always seems like he's got the skill to be a much better player...but even when he's working hard, he's still just far too wildly inconsistent offensively. But it takes a fairly high level of skill, vision, and offensive ability to just ~
exist~ offensively without getting in the way of other players. Drouin has that, even if he's never going to drive play on his own in that regard.
If you start thinking about and framing his play as a "Pius Suter" type rather than as a "Failed Top Pick Superstar"...it starts to make a lot more sense. Especially now that his salary level is commensurate with that kind of thing.
You wish you could get some other utility out of that player, on the PK or something. But he's actually a pretty capable powerplay guy, so he is at least able to contribute to
some special teams work. Though ideally you want him on the second unit as a facilitator for some straightforward shooters and crash the net types, rather than on the top unit. Though he has enough vision and passing ability to not get in the way if he has to sub in there too.
He's just one of those players who draws a ton of unfair ire because he's a "failed Top-3 draft pick". A guy who is burdened by expectations that he never lived up to. Which he also clearly wears very heavily.
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