Montreal Canadiens: Analytics Can’t Save Jonathan Drouin Anymore

2018-19 and the Beginning of the End

Now, I’ll admit, I was at first really intrigued and to an extent excited to see Drouin come to Montreal. For all the issues we know of now, Drouin had an ability to make a play where you just sit there and go “If he wanted to he could do whatever he wanted with the puck and you could never touch him”, and those same plays were evident in parts during his first few seasons in Montreal, though unfortunately, not nearly enough.

While not particularly mind-blowing numbers, Drouin recorded 45+ points in each of his first two seasons in Montreal, even with a garish -28 rating in his first season as the team sunk to the bottom of the NHL standings in 2017-18. In 2018-19, things seemed to be getting better, but as Canadiens fans would come to understand, this was somehow already the beginning of the end for Drouin.

The 2018-19 Habs were a surprising squad in many ways, as a hastily slapped together lineup put together one of the most enjoyable and exciting seasons in the Canadiens recent history,  even if Montreal did ultimately fall short of the post-season by just a couple of points.

Former Arizona Coyotes prospect Max Domi exploded for a 72-point season which he has, much like Galchenyuk, never come close to reaching again, Tomas Tatar did as Tomas Tatar does posting 25 goals and 58 points, and rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi showcased promise which the Canadiens unfortunately never capitalized on, eventually losing him to the Carolina Hurricanes via offer sheet where he has since begun to flourish in a top-six role.