With just two goals, injuries and, most recently, his delay at a team meeting that saw him benched for a full game by his coach, Jonathan Drouin is once again the subject of much speculation. Will the 10 games he has left this season be his last with the Canadians – his contract expires at the end of the season -… or even in the NHL? Three Circuit Scouts analyzed for The newspaper what options the Quebec striker has.
• Also read: Could Jonathan Drouin restart his career in Europe?
The three scouts interviewed, who prefer to remain anonymous, do not all get along. However, one thing seems clear to them: the “natural offensive instinct” of the number 27 allows at least one training attempt.
Two of them also believe the 27-year-old player will be immediately offered a fixed-term contract with a significant pay cut if we compare it to the six-year and $33 million pact he was given by former general manager Marc Bergevin in the Year 2017 (see below).
“The majority of teams want to go for a guy like him who’s produced, who has offensive talent,” notes one of the recruiters.
A bit like Ribeiro?
The situation of the two players is far from identical, but it is reminiscent of Mike Ribeiro’s situation in 2014. Like Drouin, Ribeiro had excellent touch of the ball near the opposition’s nets.
However, then-Arizona Coyotes general manager Don Maloney bought out the Quebecer’s lucrative four-year, $22 million deal after just one season, citing “real behavior problems.” [l’équipe] couldn’t take it anymore.
The Nashville Predators then tried their luck by guaranteeing Ribeiro a one-year, $1.05 million contract. And the game was worth the candle, at least in the short term: the forward gave the Predators a 62-point season.
Is he committed enough?
No, Drouin doesn’t have “real behavior problems”.
But the many off-ice stories documented in recent years, starting with his decision to quit playing in the American League while playing for the Lightning, won’t help him negotiate a large amount next time to achieve. believes the majority of recruiters surveyed.
“The question mark is his dedication to hockey,” said one of the scouts. Will he really try to improve during the games he’s going to play? Because his potential is not where he should be.
Montreal is over
However, the three recruiters do not believe that Drouin has reached the point where he is exiled to Europe to continue his career. And that’s even if he had the skills to shine on international rinks.
However, two of them are convinced that his future lies somewhere other than Montreal. Mainly because it’s the “old guard” who bought him and offered him the soon-to-be-expired contract.
But also because Jonathan Drouin had better break free from the Montreal market to reach his full potential.
“Teams will probably say that maybe he’ll be more comfortable if we take him away from Montreal and his pressure,” said one recruiter.
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