Jonathan Drouin - Is there hope?

[JT Kreider]

If Montreal can sign Tavares, both would benefit greatly off of playing with each other. Would instantly be one of the most dynamic duos in the NHL.

They'd ruin Tavares too

 

[haveandare]

No hope for him in MTL imo. He's not a center and he'll need a good center that they done' have to play wing well with.

 

[pheasant]

If Montreal can sign Tavares, both would benefit greatly off of playing with each other. Would instantly be one of the most dynamic duos in the NHL.

Doesn't even have to be Tavares. Just bring in someone who is a legit center. Sign Tavares, sign Stastny, trade for Anisimov, offer sheet Brock Nelson. I don't care who or how. Any C depth that pushes Drouin over to the wing will help him.

I think he can be a part of the solution in Montreal. Just not in his current position (or with the current coaching staff).

 

[Spilot23]

Bring that boy to Colorado, there is always hope in Denver ! Old pal Mack is there but sadly for him Barrie is now his BFF

 

[Flames Fanatic]

They were traded (or in the case of Gardiner probably nearly traded) from one or more teams because they "weren't working out" and they ended up having a lot of success (or look like they will have a lot of success) on their new teams.

Kinda what I'm expecting to happen to Sam Bennett at this point to be honest. Unless a new coach comes to Calgary and does it here, I think they only way he's going to succeed is with another organization.

 

[Lil Tuzzi Bert]

He looks great when I watch him on the power play. I think when surrounded with more talent, his numbers 5v5 will go up a lot.

 

[jack238923]

That whole team needs a jolt of some kind. Maybe it's a new GM, maybe it's a complete reset. Not being a dick Leafs fan, but the eye-test says they haven't had the confidence of a top-tier team since the P.K. trade, even when Price is lights out.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

McDonagh, Subban and Sergachev for Gomez, Drouin and Weber

 

[MessierII]

He could be a consistent 50-60 point winger in a good situation.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

He has so much skill he could stop practicing altogether and still have more skill than skilled players in the league, its everything else that I worry about.

Having it be that he just got paid and his team is suited against his strengths, he hasn't really cared this year, this is the worst hockey I've seen him play maybe ever. I've always seen him as the kind of player who looks great when everything for the team goes well, but he can't drive an offense that doesn't have the right pieces like a top Centre to take the responsibility off.

He could still be an amazing offensive talent if he finds the proper environment, for sure.

 

[CraigsList]

I think that he is one of those players where we all thought that he would be the driver on his line. However, he just unfortunately isn't. In Flames' terms, he's like Bennett. So much untapped potential, but he can only really show it when he has solid forwards playing with him on the same line. I am confident that Bennett will pick up his game again if he is able to play with Gaudreau and Monahan more, or even get a little bit of time with Tkachuk. For Drouin, I am sure that he'll be a key piece for the Habs when they find more quality players that can play with him. I think Montreal just simply needs to find a center that will have really good chemistry with him.

 

[sandysan]

Doesn't even have to be Tavares. Just bring in someone who is a legit center. Sign Tavares, sign Stastny, trade for Anisimov, offer sheet Brock Nelson. I don't care who or how. Any C depth that pushes Drouin over to the wing will help him.

I think he can be a part of the solution in Montreal. Just not in his current position (or with the current coaching staff).

so long as its not galchenyuk

 

[sr edler]

He’ll end up like Cody Hodgson.

 

[Trap Jesus]

I never thought he would end up being anything great, but there's no question that he's miscast at the moment.

Judging by Julien's time in Boston, he is one of the worst coaches in the league for bringing a player like Drouin along. I can't help but think of Ryan Spooner. Julien never liked him but was more or less forced into using him at center, despite the strength and defensive issues. He still put up decent production, but the eye test suggested a square peg in a round hole. Spooner looked better under Cassidy, and now looks to be flourishing in New York. Shifting over to the wing probably has something to do with it as well though.

 

[Iceman]

He should play wing, period. He doesn't have much to play with in Montréal though.

 

[AndreRoy]

put him LW and you will see ! this guy as to much talent

I actually think he was even better as a RW, though that could just be because that’s where we were playing him most recently. But it seemed like he was more of a goal scorer from that side.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

I think he can be a great power play weapon. I don't think he is efficient enough to be a big time 5 on 5 guy.

 

[Spirit of 67]

I said it when he was here - he can be great at making great plays, but he sucks at making good plays. Sometimes the cross-ice pass isn't there and the best play is to get it to the point or get it on net. He just doesn't have that mindset.

At the end of the day, he's still young and maybe he figures it out. I'm not putting money on it though.

Jamie McClennan was talking about Jake Gardiner a couple years ago and said: "Jake is always looking to make a million dollar pass when most of the time a ten dollar pass will do."

Sounds like what you're describing.

 

[Bobby Orr's Knees]

JD is a very talented winger. He would succeed as a top-6 player on most NHL teams. He is not a center, and he is not THE guy. But of course there is hope.

 

[The Merchant]

Yep! If he's traded to Colorado.

 

[AndreRoy]

Here’s an example of what Drouin can give you when he actually feels like trying:



There were times with the Lightning when he would just singlehandedly take over games. If he would only play with that sort of intensity on a consistent basis he’d be a beast, but unfortunately you’ll only see that sort of effort from Drouin when he feels like giving it.

 

[Bandit]

Is there hope? Dunno, can he get out of Montreal?

 

[Favster]

Can someone tell me if this Mulletman guy is trolling or not ? It's really hard to tell.

"As things are now, Drouin might be out of the League in the next 5 years..."



Anyway, Drouin is a tremendous talent but he's not a player who can drive a line on his own. He needs a big dominant 2 way player who will create space for him. I have a feeling in 2-3 years that player might be Ryan Poehling. That being said, I don't think he will ever be more than a 50-60 point winger which is why I absolutely HATED the Sergachev deal from day 1

 

[member 298589]

The problem with Drouin is Bergevin. Just like when Bergevin initiates year 7 of his 5 year plan and trades Montreal's first round pick to Vancouver for Virtanen, giving him a large contract and claiming he is your first pairing D. The problem will not be with Virtanen.

 

[Sky04]

Drouin got everything he demanded this year and look at his result - Montreal is in tough times but he's also part of the problem not a solution from his play this year. Lackluster effort, poor decision making, zero defensive awareness and non-existent 5v5 play all this after being handed a fat contract shows plenty of character - just not in a good way.

What did he want in TB?

More ice time
Better linemates
Top line role

All checks in MTL as well as a coveted spot at C which he believed he was - what you have here is a guy who grossly overestimated himself and a GM who did the same. Cooper didn't do a bang up job developing Drouin but even he knew 2 games into playing him at Center that he wasn't one - MTL is at nearly 70.

Still laughing at the MTL fans telling us how good he'd be at center though - we're at the 70 game mark and his production is still in the 30's.