30 was just a number, it doesn't have to be specifically that. But absolutely, I think things are not as simple as ''let's put a forward at any position and he will reach his potential".
If that were the case, teams would not lack centers. We could just take our best forward, Max, and put him at center. He would have been just as good right? No. Doesn't work like that.
Now I know what you'll say, Drouin has more attributes for the center position than Max. So for him, it might make sense.
But I personally disagree, I don't think Drouin should play at center. You look at this previous season as the positive step developing into a top center. I think we just wasted one season. He is young and needs to perfect his craft at the NHL level. He didn't come in and dominate. Young players need to be put in a spot where they can really excel.
I think you said it perfectly here, he's still young and needs to perfect his craft at the NHL level...this is part of development we keep shredding the team for not doing.
Well development isn't always an upwards trajectory...sometimes players take 1 step back in order to take 2 forward, we've seen this before with Carey Price, Max Pacioretty and even PK Subban to some degree.
Maybe i'm just being too optimistic, that's in my nature, but I do think last season can serve as a jump off point for Drouin...
But as it relates to production at center vs. wing...I just don't reach you on that argument, I think there are more circumstances that affect point production than simply where a player lines up for a faceoff (not neglecting the inherent responsibilities playing wing vs center either mind you).
I think TOI, quality of linemates, hockey sense, etc affect production way more than just playing wing vs center, at least IMO.
That's why you don't throw rookies on the top line or make young Dman head straight to the first pair. Getting top match ups and responsibilities. When you do that, you limit the development because they will play with the puck less, they will have less time to make plays and express creativity, etc.
Everything is related.
I don't think that's a steadfast rule, different players and different teams handle things differently...look at Charlie MacAvoy, he averaged just over 22 mins a game playing the top pair with Zdeno Chara, it didn't seem like it ruined him this year, but that's because he was put in a position to succeed (playing next to Chara) and most importantly, he had a coach who believed in him and kept using him even if he made mistakes.
This old school strategy of sheltering young players while at the same time trusting veterans who make the same mistakes, is long gone IMO...it's a young man's league, more and more teams are going to start trusting their younger player with more responsibility, that's where the game is going IMO.
So no, I don't think Drouin learned much of anything last year. He is a PP winger. At ES, he needs to be a complimentary player, not the top center. That is not going to work.
Make him a comfortable winger though, versus weaker opponents, double shift him on the PP. Make him the PP QB up front. Once he blossoms there, then shift him at center if we are very desperate.
I'm not sure how you can be so categorical on that, how do you know he didn't learn anything last year? He was an awful faceoff guy for the first 60 games last year...by the end of the year, he was much more consistent in that department.
That's one thing learned from last year...
But maybe you will be right and Drouin will come back this year having learned nothing, if that's the case, then i've terribly misjudged the type of player I think he could/can be...wouldn't be the first time.
What we did is just throw him to the wolves. That's not good.
Agreed with that...and that falls on the GM.
Either way, while we don't agree about Drouin's ability to play center...I think we both agree that if the Habs are going to continue using him there, they need to provide him with more support.