Bigger ice rinks and shorter seasons could allow Jonathan Drouin to have “a great career” in Europe if the Quebec forward ever makes that decision next summer, Douglas Boulanger believes.
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Originally from Quebec, Mr. Boulanger has been established in Switzerland for several years. He owns one of the largest hockey academies in the country and oversees player development and recruitment for The 6ix Sports Leadership agency.
Drouin, like Desharnais?
Douglas Boulanger also draws a comparison between Drouin’s stats and those of former Canadian David Desharnais, who made the leap to Switzerland where he “had a very good career” before retiring at the end of this season.
The parallel is interesting: The two Quebecers haven’t played the same number of games, but in their last five seasons in the NHL they have similar pointing averages – 32 for Desharnais and 28 for Drouin.
“And the biggest advantage when you talk about Drouin and Europe is that if you look at his injury history, he plays about fifty games a year,” he points out. In Switzerland, the season lasts 52 games. The longest commute is five hours and you sleep in your bed every night.”
Unprecedented pressure
In Europe, too, the pressure is “unparalleled,” notes Mr. Boulanger.
“He’s well known in Montreal and there he crosses a pass where everyone lynches him. […] For a player like Drouin who has the talent and the skills but is considered an underachiever in the NHL, Europe could be a pretty good showcase.”
Quebecer Marc-André Dorion, who played in Austria last season, feels the same way. Although he believes that “an NHL team is going to take a risk [Drouin]” this summer.
“If he ever decides to cross the Atlantic, I think he will do very well,” said the defender. Probably in Switzerland or in the KHL. The largest playing surfaces give him the opportunity to further prove his immense talent.
– With the collaboration of Mathieu Boulay
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