In this week’s Roundtable, we discuss the number of surprises the Montreal Canadiens could have including a switch from Jonathan Droui, a rising prospect, or a move or two from Marc Bergevi on their way to the playoffs.
1) What does Jonathan Droui need to do the change the perception of his play next season?
Joshua Delorme: I think the unfortunate thing for Jonathan Drouin is the perception that he needs to be a 70-80-point player. Based on his play in junior and his high draft selection I think fans have these very high expectations and I don’t think they are attainable for him. The easiest way for the fans to be happier with Jonathan Drouin’s play would be for them to lower their expectation a little.
Drouin finished with 18 goals and 53 points, that really isn’t a terrible season, but like I mentioned I really think fans expect more from him. If you take out his complete disappearance down the stretch, it could have been a pretty good season for the young forward. So one way for the perception of Jonathan Drouin to change would be for the fans to lower their expectations of the forward. Maybe he won’t turn out to be a 70-80-point player, that’s okay. Relying on Jonathan Drouin for 50-60-points per year might have to be what fans expect.
Now for what Jonathan Drouin can do himself to change the perception of his play. Jonathan Drouin needs to be harder to play against. He needs to play harder with the puck, be harder to defend when he is in the offensive zone. Going further than that, his play away from the puck needs to be so much better.
On so many occasions we would see him wandering around the offensive zone not knowing what to do if he didn’t have the puck. He sometimes still plays a junior-style game, just kind of floating in the offensive zone if he doesn’t have the puck. If he can improve his play away from the puck, both in the offensive and defensive zones, then I think this would make a strong case for a change in perception.
Emmanuel D: Drouin was a complicated case this season. He matched his season total of 53 points from 2016-17 when he was still with the Lightning, but during the second half of the season, he was invisible for long stretches of time. If Drouin wants to change the perception of his play next season, he’ll have to show that he could play consistently and always give maximum effort.
For the latter part, it’s hard to tell whether or not Drouin is always giving it his all. When you look at players like Max Domi or Brendan Gallagher, you see them visibly frustrated when things don’t go their way. I’m not sure Drouin has shown that. He’s acknowledged that he needs to better, but now it’s a matter of owning up to those words. The Habs are going to need him at his best if they’re going to make the playoffs.