Exactly. Drouin is a classic case of a guy with so much natural talent that he could dominate at every level without even trying…until he finally reached a level where that no longer worked, and he didn’t have the maturity or the competitive drive to adapt and do what was necessary to be successful.
What Exactly Went Wrong With Jonathan Drouin?
- Thread starter Adrianopolous
- Start date
Montreal market, mental health and massive loss of confidence as a result.
The Gr8 Dane
L'harceleur
So he would have been fine on 31 other teams?
He had red flags all over him before coming to Montreal ,
We treated him with little kids gloves
Armourboy
Hey! We suck!
Drouin is the classic case of a guy that never learned how to work hard because he didn't need too, and then when he did he had no interest in doing it. Once his talent was diminished due to injuries he's just been along for the ride.
RyJo for the Preds kind of was the same way, but in his case I think he knew how he just didn't do it except when he wanted too. He was a freaking beast in the playoffs because he wanted to win, he just didn't want to put in the effort to get there.
RyJo for the Preds kind of was the same way, but in his case I think he knew how he just didn't do it except when he wanted too. He was a freaking beast in the playoffs because he wanted to win, he just didn't want to put in the effort to get there.
Giant Panda
Formerly Just Linda, Baby Panda, and Great Panda
- Feb 24, 2018
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I can't agree with this at all.
It was never an effort issue with Drouin, it was an effectiveness issue.
Dude put the work in, he just couldn't make it work. He bulked up when he thought he needed to, he lost the bulk when he realized it cost him his speed, he was never known to have low training ethics.
Billy Kvcmu
Registered User
“Everyone has the will to win, but very few have the will to prepare to win.”
"The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work."
- Vince Lombardi
"The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work."
- Vince Lombardi
GeeoffBrown
Registered User
- Jul 6, 2007
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It's extremely difficult to be a top 6 forward in the NHL and you need a different skillset than Drouin has to be an effective bottom 6 forward in the NHL
JianYang
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2017
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Well, it was a turning point in the sense that he can't be a shooting threat. It's pretty noticeable that he changed his game after that.
At least before that injury, he showed some life every now and then, and he wasn't a 100% pass guy.
And as I mentioned, its not ALL about that wrist injury but it's usually an aspect that is overlooked.
RSchmitz PhD
⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
The trade demand while with Tampa I think gives clues into some of the mental shenanigans going on in his head. Thought he overcame them and matured a bit but perhaps not, we aren't privvy to what is happening to him.
Quatre Vingt Treize
Registered User
Brookbank
2 goals = brace
- Nov 15, 2022
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It feels like Quebec is going through a strange time with its hockey players. I wonder why. Fewer being drafted in the first round in recent years. Recent high profile picks such as Drouin and Lafreniere not working out as hoped. Huberdeau has forgotten how to play. Dubois seems to have attitude issues. It’s weird.
MarioLeMoose
Registered User
- Jul 15, 2022
- 573
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Meh player, meh career. The only thing that went wrong was the hype for him based on his junior career.
With everything said in this thread, I wonder why he's still in the NHL?
I would think there's plenty of talent and potential in the minor leagues to replace JD.
Hope is not a useful strategy.
I would think there's plenty of talent and potential in the minor leagues to replace JD.
Hope is not a useful strategy.
AlternateSideParking
Registered User
- Dec 11, 2005
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I didn’t cover Drouin’s pre-draft years, but I definitely remember his early NHL career as one of a one-dimensional finesse player who pouted about playing time and demanded a trade after he was outworked and outperformed by most of Tampa’s less-heralded youngsters who took their development in stride. Both Yzerman and Cooper saw the signs and sold super high. Rest is history.
A funny aspect of the trade is that the analytics community challenged Cooper’s assertion that Drouin didn’t play defense by citing his high possession numbers lol. As if Tampa’s system had nothing to do with it lol. Not their best moment, as Drouin was notorious for being the only guy lost in coverage.
As far as the mental health/partying stuff, those are just excuses. Most young NHL players like to hit the town, enjoy the perks of wealth and fame, and get sauced on occasion. Nearly all top players find ways to overcome the stress, anxiety, isolation, etc. from being in the public eye, and they usually say being on the ice is their only “safe space”.
Drouin was given the golden goose by being drafted by Tampa and could have been a winner on a great team. All he had to do was wait a little longer and put in the extra work. So what if you get passed over for minutes and shifts as long as you’re part of a winning brotherhood. Clearly those weren’t Drouin’s priorities.
If there was a GM college, the Drouin saga would be mandatory study. Bergervin (and his pro scouts) got waxed and the Habs’ franchise suffered in part because of it. It’s almost unfathomable that the Canadiens were willing to take another chance on a finesse forward for a top defense prospect when the Gomez-McDonagh deal was a well-known lopsided deal in post-lockout history (2010 CF run notwithstanding).
A funny aspect of the trade is that the analytics community challenged Cooper’s assertion that Drouin didn’t play defense by citing his high possession numbers lol. As if Tampa’s system had nothing to do with it lol. Not their best moment, as Drouin was notorious for being the only guy lost in coverage.
As far as the mental health/partying stuff, those are just excuses. Most young NHL players like to hit the town, enjoy the perks of wealth and fame, and get sauced on occasion. Nearly all top players find ways to overcome the stress, anxiety, isolation, etc. from being in the public eye, and they usually say being on the ice is their only “safe space”.
Drouin was given the golden goose by being drafted by Tampa and could have been a winner on a great team. All he had to do was wait a little longer and put in the extra work. So what if you get passed over for minutes and shifts as long as you’re part of a winning brotherhood. Clearly those weren’t Drouin’s priorities.
If there was a GM college, the Drouin saga would be mandatory study. Bergervin (and his pro scouts) got waxed and the Habs’ franchise suffered in part because of it. It’s almost unfathomable that the Canadiens were willing to take another chance on a finesse forward for a top defense prospect when the Gomez-McDonagh deal was a well-known lopsided deal in post-lockout history (2010 CF run notwithstanding).
