Jonathan Drouin

[electron58]

6 hours ago, tony5775 said:

We must be watching different games. He was one of the best on the ice last night. Played a complete game and was even hitting. One goal and five assists to start the season. He is going to have a career year. 

Must be. Just because he had a beautiful goal, doesn't mean he had even a good game. Just because the announcers say that he has chemistry with Suzuki,  doesn't make it so. Maybe he is trying,  but because he is afraid to get hit, he gives up the puck too much. I just can't put on those rose coloured glasses. Plus, his stats are inflated. Don't get me wrong,  I hope he does put up 70 points. That just means that Suzuki & Anderson are driving that line. Period.

[electron58]

1 hour ago, HARBORSPORT said:

for years I've said we'd be better without him.....has some degree of skill..but spends most of his ice time floating around, has never lived up to the hype

This. And I  don't even care anymore that we lost Sergachev for him! He's a liability. But if we see it, then you know that other teams do, as well. So maybe, he is just that immovable asset, and we are stuck with him. So all we can hope for, is that he doesn't drag that line down too much!

[jennifer_rocket]

I don't know. 1 goal,1 assist, and +1 in 12:32 TOI sounds like a decent stat line to me. He's also 2.3 Relative Corsi for the season so far, which seems good. 6 points from 6 games played as well.

[maas_art]

37 minutes ago, jennifer_rocket said:

I don't know. 1 goal,1 assist, and +1 in 12:32 TOI sounds like a decent stat line to me. He's also 2.3 Relative Corsi for the season so far, which seems good. 6 points from 6 games played as well.

He's been good.  People are always going to be down on him because he appears to have enough skill to carry a team but thats just not the player he is.  This is the first year since he left Tampa Bay that he can just be "a guy" - not "the guy"  Thats going to help his game immensely imho.

Despite his smooth skills, he's really only a secondary, complimentary player. In that role, he's been fine. I assume he'll once again have a (prorated) 50-55 point season and probably be the whipping boy when he doesnt score for a long stretch. 

 

 

[dreegking]

54 minutes ago, maas_art said:

He's been good.  People are always going to be down on him because he appears to have enough skill to carry a team but thats just not the player he is.  This is the first year since he left Tampa Bay that he can just be "a guy" - not "the guy"  Thats going to help his game immensely imho.

Despite his smooth skills, he's really only a secondary, complimentary player. In that role, he's been fine. I assume he'll once again have a (prorated) 50-55 point season and probably be the whipping boy when he doesnt score for a long stretch. 

 

 

I’d argue he’s playing ok.  But stat lines don’t tell the whole truth. They don’t tell when you handle pucks at your own blue line and turn it over,  that cost you games. An Actual win or loss. Not every plus/minus is equal. Statsoften don’t tell you when you turn over the puck up high in a cycle with one hand on your stick, and manage to get off the ice just in time for a goal the other way on a 2-2 that ends up being a goal on a scramble by a late third player for the other team. Those plus and minus type stats are not on record at all, except for other players.  Etc.
 

look, He’s good. But I’d argue he plays like a third line player more nights than not. He is not worth the money imo. 

i am100 percent ok with him being taken in the expansion draft. But I doubt he will be. 

The good thing is he is getting better as a player. Still growing. 

[maas_art]

1 hour ago, dreegking said:

I’d argue he’s playing ok.  But stat lines don’t tell the whole truth. They don’t tell when you handle pucks at your own blue line and turn it over,  that cost you games. An Actual win or loss. Not every plus/minus is equal. Statsoften don’t tell you when you turn over the puck up high in a cycle with one hand on your stick, and manage to get off the ice just in time for a goal the other way on a 2-2 that ends up being a goal on a scramble by a late third player for the other team. Those plus and minus type stats are not on record at all, except for other players.  Etc.
 

look, He’s good. But I’d argue he plays like a third line player more nights than not. He is not worth the money imo. 

i am100 percent ok with him being taken in the expansion draft. But I doubt he will be. 

The good thing is he is getting better as a player. Still growing. 

Id say 2nd liner but we're splitting hairs.  I think overally we're saying the same thing. I agree that he's somewhat one dimensional but you need those sorts of players on your team.  The problem we have is that you see guys like Tatar, Toffoli, Lehkonen with 1/2 the talent but twice the hustle & say "if only jonathan played like that" but its just not him. He'll never be that guy.   And thats ok.

I dont think he's particularly overpaid but i also dont think he's high value. I think most GMs would have given him exactly the contract he has. He's pretty much the poster boy for a 55 point forward who doesnt play a full 200 ft game. 

[electron58]

2 hours ago, dreegking said:

I’d argue he’s playing ok.  But stat lines don’t tell the whole truth. They don’t tell when you handle pucks at your own blue line and turn it over,  that cost you games. An Actual win or loss. Not every plus/minus is equal. Statsoften don’t tell you when you turn over the puck up high in a cycle with one hand on your stick, and manage to get off the ice just in time for a goal the other way on a 2-2 that ends up being a goal on a scramble by a late third player for the other team. Those plus and minus type stats are not on record at all, except for other players.  Etc.
 

look, He’s good. But I’d argue he plays like a third line player more nights than not. He is not worth the money imo. 

i am100 percent ok with him being taken in the expansion draft. But I doubt he will be. 

The good thing is he is getting better as a player. Still growing. 

Nice to see someone else looking at the big picture. I would only sign PD for 5.5  if we flipped JD. Montreal feels they have to have francophones,  so if they have to keep JD, then 4M for PD. Either way, it wouldn't bother me to see JD go.

[jennifer_rocket]

3 hours ago, maas_art said:

He's been good.  People are always going to be down on him because he appears to have enough skill to carry a team but thats just not the player he is.  This is the first year since he left Tampa Bay that he can just be "a guy" - not "the guy"  Thats going to help his game immensely imho.

Despite his smooth skills, he's really only a secondary, complimentary player. In that role, he's been fine. I assume he'll once again have a (prorated) 50-55 point season and probably be the whipping boy when he doesnt score for a long stretch. 

I anticipate the same. It would be pretty great if he stays healthy and ends up in the 50-point range from 56 games. I think he can do it. Especially on a line with KK and Armia. Getting favorable match-ups and the like.

[electron58]

5 minutes ago, jennifer_rocket said:

I anticipate the same. It would be pretty great if he stays healthy and ends up in the 50-point range from 56 games. I think he can do it. Especially on a line with KK and Armia. Getting favorable match-ups and the like.

But he's playing with Suzuki & Anderson, so he will get a ton of points despite......

[jennifer_rocket]

22 minutes ago, electron58 said:

But he's playing with Suzuki & Anderson, so he will get a ton of points despite......

Yep. I am confusing all my lines! I meant with Anderson and Suzuki.

[tony5775]

Jonathan Drouin – 8/10

Easily the biggest beneficiary of the coaching change.  His skill finally has a purpose shift in and shift out.  Canadiens best player without a doubt.  Much more willing to try and get his shot off.  Fantastic tip to tie the game was his goal if not for Perry’s pant leg.  Growing into the player most believed he could be when he first arrived in Montreal. 

Lets give credit when due, since so quick to criticize at other times.

[jennifer_rocket]

He definitely does deserve some credit. He was also playing well last season until he was injured. He seemed to struggle after that. I wonder if having a history with Ducharme will help his confidence and overall play. I think they worked together in Junior.

He's been good this season!

[CaptWelly]

37 minutes ago, tony5775 said:

Jonathan Drouin – 8/10

Easily the biggest beneficiary of the coaching change.  His skill finally has a purpose shift in and shift out.  Canadiens best player without a doubt.  Much more willing to try and get his shot off.  Fantastic tip to tie the game was his goal if not for Perry’s pant leg.  Growing into the player most believed he could be when he first arrived in Montreal. 

Lets give credit when due, since so quick to criticize at other times.

I agree and he has been a lot better defensively this season. If you watch his game he has been making a lot of little plays this year that actually have freed up Suzuki and Anderson more. 

[maas_art]

2 hours ago, tony5775 said:

Jonathan Drouin – 8/10

Easily the biggest beneficiary of the coaching change.  His skill finally has a purpose shift in and shift out.  Canadiens best player without a doubt.  Much more willing to try and get his shot off.  Fantastic tip to tie the game was his goal if not for Perry’s pant leg.  Growing into the player most believed he could be when he first arrived in Montreal. 

Lets give credit when due, since so quick to criticize at other times.

I actually think JK will benefit from the change more but definitely its helping JD.  That said, I actually think he's been quite good for about a year now. He compliments the Suzuki line super well (I was totally wrong there, I didnt think he was the best choice for LW on that line). But I do think he needs to work on that blind pass.  Sometimes its at the line, sometimes its in the middle of the ice - but its totally fixable. The coaching staff needs to hammer home to him: if you dont have a play, move it FORWARD, not backwards.  

I think if they can ever get through to him on that, he'll be even better.  As i said at the start of the year: JD has alway needed to be "A guy" not "The guy" and he can finally do that on this roster.  In TB he was more effective because he was never relied upon to be "the guy"

 

[caperns61]

1 hour ago, maas_art said:

I actually think JK will benefit from the change more but definitely its helping JD.  That said, I actually think he's been quite good for about a year now. He compliments the Suzuki line super well (I was totally wrong there, I didnt think he was the best choice for LW on that line). But I do think he needs to work on that blind pass.  Sometimes its at the line, sometimes its in the middle of the ice - but its totally fixable. The coaching staff needs to hammer home to him: if you dont have a play, move it FORWARD, not backwards.  

I think if they can ever get through to him on that, he'll be even better.  As i said at the start of the year: JD has alway needed to be "A guy" not "The guy" and he can finally do that on this roster.  In TB he was more effective because he was never relied upon to be "the guy"

 

Actually, the best thing to do would be to let JD go, use his creativity,  he will make mistakes as any skilled player does, I know Junior hockey is not the NHL, but Drouin was good because Ducharme let him play to his skillset, allowed him to be creative, he did not focus on his deficiencies. Believe or not Ducharme, had him playing in all situations even penality kill, I actually think Drouin is looking better each game since Ducharme had taken over.

 

[jennifer_rocket]

I don't mind the blind passes and stuff. I'm guessing it happens because he's feeling confident and creative.

[26NCounting]

Coming from a JD hater I will say I am totally impressed by the change in his game since the coaching change.  Hope he keeps this up and may even win me over LOL!

[RCAF48]

13 minutes ago, 26NCounting said:

Coming from a JD hater I will say I am totally impressed by the change in his game since the coaching change.  Hope he keeps this up and may even win me over LOL!

ditto

[maas_art]

4 hours ago, jennifer_rocket said:

I don't mind the blind passes and stuff. I'm guessing it happens because he's feeling confident and creative.

Yeah but there's a difference between attempted passes that make some sense and just dumping when you get rushed.  Again, i think he's playing very well - especially the last little bit - but just that tiny tweak (get rushed, move the puck forward or attempt an actual pass, dont just dump blindly wherever) and i think his game is just that much better.   Last night I counted at least 3 plays like this where the opposition got an odd man break because of - and had he just moved the puck forward at worst we would have lost possession evenly, not at a disadvantage. 

[electron58]

5 hours ago, 26NCounting said:

Coming from a JD hater I will say I am totally impressed by the change in his game since the coaching change.  Hope he keeps this up and may even win me over LOL!

I will concede as well. One of JD's better games. I hope he keeps playing with this new found passion,  as they definitely will be keeping him. And that's all I ask. Leave it all on the ice, a la Gallagher. 

[HabsRuleForever]

Taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. More to come.

[maas_art]

10 minutes ago, HabsRuleForever said:

Taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. More to come.

Sounds serious/ominous - as he's been placed on the LTIR and the team has asked that the public "respect his privacy."

Hope everything is ok with him & his family.

 

On the cap side this makes things a lot easier now with his salary off the books for the rest of year. Not sure how much the 4/4 call up / replacements thing will hurt us now though... 

 

[jennifer_rocket]

16 minutes ago, HabsRuleForever said:

Taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. More to come.

Not good.

I'm sure it's not going to be pleasant, no matter what it is, but I hope it's more minor than major.

[ChiLla]

Bad news... 

[BigTed3]

1 hour ago, jennifer_rocket said:

Not good.

I'm sure it's not going to be pleasant, no matter what it is, but I hope it's more minor than major.

All Ducharme would say is that

1. He had an illness that was not COVID.

2. He stayed in his hotel room for several days after this.

3. His expected long-term issue is not the same thing as the illness.

 

No further news. Is this an underlying health issue, is it a psychological issue, is it a family matter... could be any of these. In any case, it sounds serious, as you alluded to. Wishing him a full recovery from whatever this is.