Does Drouin Plus Mackinnon Equal Hardware?
Nathan Mackinnon and Jonathan Drouin played on the same line for the Halifax Moosehead before they were drafted into the NHL. In two seasons of playing together from 2011-2013, they were nearly unstoppable. Mackinnon played 102 regular season games and he scored 153. In the playoffs, he was even better scoring 61 points in just 34 games played.
Jonathan Drouin was no slouch either as he played in 82 games in those two seasons scoring 134 points for the Mooseheads. At the time of the draft, the big question most scouts were discussing was whether you should take Mackinnon, Drouin, or the defense prospect that was considered to be the best of the draft at the time Seth Jones. There were even some reports that the Colorado Avalanche were considering taking Drouin at the time but decided that going with a center was better value.
The Avalanche ended up selecting Nathan Mackinnon with the 1st overall selection and Jonathan Drouin was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning at number 3.
After feeling as if he was not being given the opportunity that he should be given where he was taken in the draft he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2017. He had some ups and downs since 2017 with the Canadians due to both a young inconsistent team as well as some injuries. The Canadians decided to let him leave in Free Agency.
This was the chance that many Colorado Avalanche fans and pundits were waiting for. Would the avalanche roll the dice and see if the Mackinnon could help Drouin to rediscover his magical touch?
Of course, by now we all know that they decided to sign him to a 1-year contract. I am very excited to see how he looks playing with the Avalanche in Bednars up-tempo fast skating style that I think fits him well and with MacKinnon again.
What does Drouin bring to the Stanly cup contending Colorado Avalanche?
Here is what sports forecaster has to say about Drouin.
The tools for stardom that made him the No. 3 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft are still there, but he is still trying to put everything together at the highest level. He can play all three forward positions, has terrific puck skills, excellent vision and creativity, and can be a world-class playmaker. However, he still has to prove he can get past the injuries and inconsistency that have marked his career, and his play off the puck remains a work in progress. Long Range Potential: Supremely talented playmaker with major consistency issues.
Drouin has all the ability and talent in the world. He has shown it in flashes at the NHL level but he has struggled to do that on a consistent night in night out basis. A combination of Nathan Mackinnon’s leadership work ethic and drive to win and Avalanche coach Jared Bednar are the keys to remedying that consistency issue. This is what the Avalanche and myself as well are banking on.
The Avalanche have a history of getting the most out of players under the Jared Bednar coaching tenure. When they brought it Ryan Graves he was considered an AHL lifer (someone who would spend the entirety of his career in the American Hockey League). When they brought Valieri Nichuskin to the team he hadn’t scored a goal in multiple seasons and most considered him a bust. He turned into a key member of the 2022 Stanley Cup-winning Avalanche team. This coaching staff and leadership group on the ice has a track record for bringing the best out of a player, and this should be no exception. Drouin has the talent and the ability and because of this Avalanche fans should be excited about seeing how this season turns out. If he fits in well (as I expect he will) he is a guy that they could keep around longer term.
Where might Drouin fit into the lineup?
personally, I believe we will see something like this. (with Landeskog being out for the season due to injury)
#1 Left Wing – Jonathan Drouin Center – Nathan Mackinnon. Right Wing – Mikko Rantanent
#2 Left Wing – Arturi Lehkonen Center – Ryan Johansen. Right Wing – Valeri Nichushkin
#3 Left Wing – Miles Wood. Center – Ross Colton. Right Wing – Logan O’Connor
#4 Left Wing – Andrew Cogliano. Center – Ben Meyers. Right Wing – Oskar Olausson
depending on what you want you can change up the players and possibly will see Oskar Olausson not with the NHL to start the year instead they may have someone like Christ Wagner there. I would personally like to see Olausson get a shot in camp and pre-season but that is another article.
The first pre-season game is on September 24, 2023. Here is a link to the rest of the schedule. Don’t miss the chance to see some of these new players and younger players for the first time repping the burgundy and blue!
Are you excited about seeing Johnathan Drouin with the Avalanche this season? Let us know in the comments!
