What Exactly Went Wrong With Jonathan Drouin?

[Bouboumaster]

He is shit on a lot but he's putting a bunch of points. He's amazing at seeing the Ice and can pull out great assists. He's like 3 or 4 players on the Habs that complete a pass lol

Problem is, he's always hurt...
Either that, or it's his mental problems
Dude has 50 points seasons in him but he just can't do it with the tons of missed Games he has

I'd take him back on the Habs, just not at 5.5M$ per year
More like at 2.5 or something

 

[ginomini]

He was forced to play center his first year in Montreal because Bergevin was a f***ing idiot.

He did ok his 2nd year, and looked like it was something to build off for following years. His 3rd year, he started out ppg then took a brutal hit from Ovechkin that broke his wrist, and that was that.

Lots of injuries, and a mental health crisis over the next 3 years followed.

Finally someone who explains what happened without trashing the player for no reason!

 

[CTHabsfan]

Hasn't played a full year since 18/19. What exactly happened to this kid?

He hasn't played a full year since 18/19 due to injuries, which tend to derail careers. He wasn't done any favors being traded to Montreal, forced to play a position where he did not have experience and expected to be the next Richard/ Beliveau/Lafleur.

 

[CTHabsfan]

He is shit on a lot but he's putting a bunch of points. He's amazing at seeing the Ice and can pull out great assists. He's like 3 or 4 players on the Habs that complete a pass lol

Problem is, he's always hurt...
Either that, or it's his mental problems
Dude has 50 points seasons in him but he just can't do it with the tons of missed Games he has

I'd take him back on the Habs, just not at 5.5M$ per year
More like at 2.5 or something

I wouldn't mind if the Habs gave Drouin another year, but it would need to be a lot less than $2.5 million.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I wouldn't mind if the Habs gave Drouin another year, but it would need to be a lot less than $2.5 million.

God, please, no.

I'm so excited to never have to watch Drouin play for the Habs again.

We have more than enough wingers thanks to Bergevin and a few younger players we need to keep spots open for, Heineman, RHP, Ylonen and Farrell.

 

[BLNY]

At the time of his first wrist break in 2018-19 (iirc), he was playing exactly how the club wanted. He was engaged physically, shooting the puck, and creating offense all around.

The second wrist break has resulted in him having nothing behind his shot. It's a biscuit from anywhere outside 20 feet.

None of us really know what precipitated his mental health leave, but it's not a stretch to think that part of it at least was the pressure of being French Canadian and playing for Montreal.

If you've objectively watched him play since Christmas, and by that I mean forget the name on the back of the jersey and the trade, he's played quite well. He's playing at virtually a ppg clip. He was +/- 0 before last night during this stretch. It's all assists, and he could have several more if Montreal had more finishers.

I think the best thing for him is to get out of Montreal. Sign a one year deal somewhere. He'll never be THE GUY, but I still think he can be a solid second line and PP guy. Outside of Montreal, I think he can return to being a 50 point player. I hope it works out for him. If he decides to walk away, he doesn't owe us anything.

 

[GJB]

I think some people forget how promising Drouin looked at one point early in his NHL career.

Sure he did have the contract holdout season in 2015-16, but when he did come back that year, he was really, really good for Tampa in those playoffs. He finished with 14pts in 17gp only behind Kucherov/Johnson.

Next season he seemed to build on that and progress further, putting up 53pts in 73gp, good for 2nd among Tampa forwards. And that was as a 21yr old.

The only players his age or younger to put up 53+pts that year were Eichel, Marner, Ehlers, Laine, MacKinnon, Nylander, McDavid, Patrnak, Matthews and Draisatl.

Drouin had a ton of potential when the trade happened, obviously hindsight is hindsight but at the time it was easy to see why Montreal went after this trade in my opinion.

 

[beowulf]

I think some people forget how promising Drouin looked at one point early in his NHL career.

Sure he did have the contract holdout season in 2015-16, but when he did come back that year, he was really, really good for Tampa in those playoffs. He finished with 14pts in 17gp only behind Kucherov/Johnson.

Next season he seemed to build on that and progress further, putting up 53pts in 73gp, good for 2nd among Tampa forwards. And that was as a 21yr old.

The only players his age or younger to put up 53+pts that year were Eichel, Marner, Ehlers, Laine, MacKinnon, Nylander, McDavid, Patrnak, Matthews and Draisatl.

Drouin had a ton of potential when the trade happened, obviously hindsight is hindsight but at the time it was easy to see why Montreal went after this trade in my opinion.

It was a terrible trade then and even worse now.

 

[dukeofjive]

Hard to say as I do not know him personally.

But I remember is draft year when tampa tried to send him back to the minors after is first year of training camp and he made a big fuss about it.

It all went downhill from there.

 

[joestevens29]

People often mock and downplay "character or motivatation/effort issues" with a potential draftee.

Drouin is why they need to be seriously considered.

There is always the hope of maturity and for some guys they get it and mature. Others don't and then years down the road we have threads like this(nothing against the thread).

I do think it's getting better than it was when Drouin was drafted, but there will still be teams that might fall in love with the talent too much and just hope they can work with the guy.

 

[CTHabsfan]

God, please, no.

I'm so excited to never have to watch Drouin play for the Habs again.

We have more than enough wingers thanks to Bergevin and a few younger players we need to keep spots open for, Heineman, RHP, Ylonen and Farrell.

Wasn't saying I hope Drouin is back next year, but a one-year prove it deal (if it's cheap) wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if there is not a better alternative. Heineman and Farrell need more experience before they can assume NHL roles and Ylonen has not been impressive.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

He is mediocre. Skill is there, brains aren't.

 

[Sky04]

He got the "careful what you wish for" curse, more ice time, bigger role, more of a leash and then failed.

He was much more dominant as a supporting offensive playing in TB.

 

[SwedishFire]

Out of all the players who did not pan out, I find JD to be the hardest to swallow... 0g, 17a in 32 games this year.. Hasn't played a full year since 18/19. What exactly happened to this kid?

When I saw this goal with Tampa, I was convinced he'd be a superstar:

3 on 3 and he tries a gamble dangle and turned it over, and get it back by luck.

I think the best compareable is anti datsyuk. Datsyuk made moves that gave advantages, and was interrrsting solutuons for a situation. Drouin tries things that is guessings, and often turns into turn overs.

 

[SwedishFire]

He simply doesn't have the extra gear to complement his puck skills.

You need to play with a certain pace and urgency to be a top player. He doesn't have that pace. Rarely first on pucks, doesn't really give his all in one-on-one battles, and is too passive on the ice. He doesn't make the space to exploit his skill. He doesn't even put himself in space that his teammates create for him.

There is also a lack of focus. This is probably related to his desire to play the game. He clearly sees the plays happen in advance, but there isn't quick decision making.

Lastly, he has 0 shot left from the wrist injury. Even his puck handling abilities have diminished since. He used to rarely lose the puck while dangling. Now, he often out dangles himself.

If not injured, he could be at least an useful offensive player. Sounds like a worker that lost his handcraft, and now just is there.

When I watched the movie Goon I thought the highly skilled, underachieving french Canadian character was based off Drouin

I felt a bit the same.

 

[pth2]

He took a while to develop any kind of maturity, and when he tried to include grit in his game, it started to lead to a series of injuries...

I think people mentioning Sergachev are off-base though. Sergachev could've flopped or won Norris trophies, doesn't change that Drouin should realistically have been a 50-60 point winger.

 

[Bouboumaster]

He's currently at 9 points in his last 7 games btw
That's not bad at all

 

[JoVel]

He's currently at 9 points in his last 7 games btw
That's not bad at all

I think we've seen enough of him than using a 7 game sample size isn't exactly convincing.

 

[nturn06]

Out of all the players who did not pan out, I find JD to be the hardest to swallow... 0g, 17a in 32 games this year.. Hasn't played a full year since 18/19. What exactly happened to this kid?

When I saw this goal with Tampa, I was convinced he'd be a superstar:

Despite the popular belief that he can do no wrong, Yzerman also had some bad picks in the draft, including picking Druin at #3.

As for that goal, one goal does not make a player. Just take a look at these potential superstars:

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

In all my years of being a Habs fan, I can not recall a player that has received such unfair and mindless hate as Drouin.

Yes the talent is obvious and it is frustrating that he hasn't been able to live up to the player we thought we would get when we traded Sergachev for him - but much of the criticism directed his way is just hateful.

Probably forgot the 3 turnovers a game he did for 5 years in a row . Lack of effort .

Yeah unfair. Lmao

 

[Andy]

If not injured, he could be at least an useful offensive player. Sounds like a worker that lost his handcraft, and now just is there.


I felt a bit the same.

I think he could make a career being a journeyman middle 6er. But the question at hand is what happened to him, aka, why didn't he meet his draft expectations. It's not whether he's an nhler or not.

The reason is he hasn't lived up to his talent is that he just doesn't have that pace and tenacity to be involved in all facets of the game. This is a player who has the speed to be first one pucks, but never is. He isn't small, but he doesn't engage physically. Very little physical effort for one-on-one battles for loose pucks.

His sense of urgency when he has the puck is lacking. You can literally see that he has a vision for open lanes and understands the play, but there is no rush in his game. Passes lag, or he's lacking focus.

That fire you saw in junior of a player who wanted the puck and didn't want to let go of the puck is simply not there.

Lastly, his wrists are clearly shot. He can't shoot the puck anymore, and his stick handling is a tenth of what it used to be.

That said, he's played very well for a good stretch now. Definitely well enough to be a middle 6 player on most clubs. I'm happy how he turned around his game. He's been pretty great on the PP for a while now.

I just don't see him being more than a dude who is bounced around the lineup unless something major changes in his game.

 

[Maitz]

All the tools in the world, no tool box

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

1 - Injuries, mainly to his hands/wrists have killed his ability to shoot. Everyone knows when he has the puck he's just going to pass.
2 - He had very high expectations in Montreal, as a Quebec born player fans/media expected him to live up to his draft status. His confidence has been shot and he hasn't been able to handle the pressure well.
3 - His skills alone were able to allow him to dominate in junior, however he hasn't adjusted his game to be very effective in the NHL.
4 - Montreal has sucked ass offensively most of his time here, plus for some reason he was asked to be the 1C his first year as a Hab.

He's still put up a ~50 point pace during his time in Montreal so he hasn't been THAT bad. However the best thing for him would be to play in a smaller market without as much pressure.

 

[wetcoast]

I think the pressure of Montreal got to him. Didn't they also try to make him a center when he was clearly better on the wing and had basically no experience playing as a center?

I believe his career looks a lot different had he stayed with the Lightning. He looked great in his last season here.

Basically this although I'm not sure about the looking great in his last season in TB, it only looks that way with what happened in Montreal.

 

[Realgud]

I remember not liking him very much before the draft. Thought he was a super risky pick and would have a hard time justifying him in the top 5, or even top 10. He was super skilled but most of what he did wouldn't translate to the NHL at all, and also the way he played the game was very immature and he showed poor decision-making and tunnel visioning and that made me think his IQ was very low.