Jonathan Drouin put his skates back on the ice at the Bell Center, but with a different uniform from that of the Canadian. He wore the royal blue of the Colorado Avalanche.
Drouin couldn’t have chosen a better time to return to Montreal, the city where he played his last six seasons in the NHL. By his own admission, he is probably playing the best hockey of his career. He is having happy days with 16 points (7 goals, 9 assists) in his last 15 games.
Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
After a quiet start to the season, Drouin came out of his shell and gained the trust of Jared Bednar. He has also played more than 21 minutes in his last 7 games.
“I feel comfortable,” said Drouin in a corner of the opposing team’s small locker room at the Bell Centre. It helps when you play with guys like [Nathan] MacKinnon and [Mikko] Rantanen. I know I can pick up points occasionally without doing much. But I like the way I’ve been playing hockey lately. I’m getting good playing time and the coach trusts me. He likes my game and I like my game. There are matches where I played 25 minutes. It’s rare that you can do that. When the coach gives it to you, you want to give it to him.”
Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
Beat shyness
Acquired for a pittance on the free agent market (1 year and $825,000), Drouin needed time before taking off with the Avalanche. He only had 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) after 26 games and he had watched 2 games from the stands.
“I think I was embarrassed at first,” admitted number 27. “We used that word [gêne]. Nathan was telling me about it. You arrive at a new place and you want to be a good person, make the right pass and make the right plays. Now I’m at the stage where I play my style. I make my decisions and I live with the decisions I make. We can make mistakes and we have the right. I don’t have to clear the puck deep in the crease. We have the right to play hockey. The coach is good with that.
“I take my shots, I take my chances,” he continued. I try not to make too many passes. When you receive passes from Makar, MacKinnon, it’s often because you have a chance to score afterwards. They find you at the right time. I try to take my shots when it’s time. I also had a really good summer training, I didn’t have any problems. I’m reaping the rewards.”
Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
Released
Sitting a few lockers away from Drouin in the opposing team’s locker room, MacKinnon talked about his former teammate’s development with the Halifax Mooseheads.
“I’m so happy for him,” MacKinnon said. You know, he got off to a slow start. He will be the first to recognize it. But for the past two months, he’s been great. And the numbers follow. He seems very happy to me. He is always in a good mood, he has fun and he is loved by his teammates. To play well, you have to feel good mentally. So it makes sense to believe that he is mentally liberated.”
In the mountains of Colorado, Drouin also found a more anonymous life.
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“I don’t really get recognized or looked at when I’m in the grocery store,” he replied with a smile. It’s different in Denver. It remains a hockey town, but there are also several sports. It’s fun to come back here to Montreal, but life is different there.
“Hockey-wise, I said it when I signed, but it’s an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. I play for a good team with players who are in the top five or ten in the NHL with Nate, Mikko and Makar.
Drouin bet on him with a small contract and he is on the right path to winning his bet.