Jonathan Drouin’s Return to Ball Arena
Tonight, former Colorado Avalanche winger Jonathan Drouin returns to Ball Arena, but this time as a member of the New York Islanders. Drouin, who turned 30, spent the last two seasons with the Avalanche before becoming a free agent and securing a two-year contract worth $8 million with the Islanders on July 1st.
Drouin’s Reflections on His Time with the Avalanche
“I thoroughly enjoyed my two years here,” Drouin shared with The Hockey News. “It’s always nice to come back to a place where you had such a great experience.”
Although for some players, like Brock Nelson who has spent over a decade with the Islanders, facing a former team can feel odd, Drouin expresses a different sentiment. Since he’s already familiar with the rink and its surroundings, he doesn’t expect to feel any discomfort as he transitions into this new role.
“No, it’s not strange at all. I’ve been here before. Walking to the Avs locker room is a bit longer, but I loved my time here, and it’s fantastic to be back.”
During his tenure with the Avalanche, he tallied a commendable 30 goals and 63 assists over 122 games, although his last year was marred by injuries. Despite that, in the previous season, he nearly achieved a point-per-game average, finishing with 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points in just 43 games.
Interactions with Former Teammates
This morning, Drouin was seen sporting an Islanders hoodie during the team’s morning skate while catching up with his former Avalanche teammates, including Parker Kelly and Devon Toews. The friendly interactions made it clear that there are no hard feelings between Drouin and the Avalanche organization. After the game, he plans to reconnect with his old friends and teammates.
Comparisons Between Cale Makar and Matthew Schaefer
On a different note, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar commented on the increasing comparisons being drawn between Cale Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, and the 18-year-old Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer. Drouin, sharing his insights on this topic, agreed with Bednar:
“The skating is definitely very similar. Schae’s skating is impressive. Cale has been in the league longer and is at another level right now, but what Schae is doing as a rookie is remarkable.”
Drouin’s NHL Experience
Bringing his extensive NHL experience to the rink, Drouin has played 624 games across stints with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Avalanche, and Islanders, amassing 110 goals and 278 assists totaling 388 points.
Game Preview
For the game tonight, the Avalanche hold an impressive record of 12-1-5 and are keen to extend their streak against an Islanders team fresh off four consecutive victories under the leadership of Patrick Roy. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:11 p.m. local time.
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