Publicly praising Jonathan Drouin’s game has been a dangerous exercise in recent years.

When he joined the CH in 2017, the Quebecer was 22 and had just completed a 53-point in 73-game season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In addition, his phenomenal time in the QMJHL was still remembered, where he collected the “modest” total of 242 points in 128 games with the Halifax Mooseheads.

Give this pot of elements a little stir and it’s very easy to understand/recall how extremely high expectations were once placed on Drouin’s game.

The Ste-Agathe native’s first season at Montreal was a respectable one: 46 points in 77 games, a feat that earned him third place among Habs scorers.

The following season, the forward did even better with 53 points (in 81 games).

But everything changed in November 2019 when Drouin, who had made another great start, was hit very hard by Alex Ovechkin.

The skater was on the floor for several weeks and returned to play at the end of the season and during the series in the bubble (where he also looked good), but between that moment and the current season injuries and various problems are for No. 27 .

Since that famous night in November 2019, Drouin has only appeared in 122 games out of a possible 279. And during the rare games he has participated in during this period, he has been more than not very erased on the icy surface.

Meanwhile, defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who the Canadians traded to Jonathan nearly six years ago, has enjoyed some encouraging development with 27 points in 30 games with the Lightning this season.

That’s why we told you from the start that you have to be brave to highlight Jonathan Drouin’s good plays, especially in the last two or three years. Several openly admit that “after so many disappointments and missed appointments” they no longer have the patience to support the 27-year-old young man.

“He plays his best hockey with the Canadiens”

After all, every person on this huge planet has a right to their opinion. But it would be willful blindness not to acknowledge Drouin’s recent performances as solid as hell. Since his injury return on December 14, the left-hander has been placed in the center and is one of the best attackers in Switzerland for the first time in a very long time.

“Jonathan plays his best hockey with the Montreal Canadiens,” journalist Marc-André Perreault said bluntly during a discussion with the podcast’s Xavier Julien the dose. He’s really involved, he’s solid in the faceoff circle and he’s playing with a lot of pace. In fact, I think his great dedication explains everything. He has to be active in the game, he has to move. For him, that’s the key.”

And Perreault didn’t stop there.

“Against Arizona, he invited Gostisbehere to throw away the gloves. We hadn’t seen that from Jo before. In the last couple of games, we’ve also seen him apply good checks and cut into the net. Honestly, it doesn’t change anything. Martin loves his job. We never know. If Jonathan Drouin unlocks at the end, that wouldn’t be bad at all.

Jonathan Drouin has five assists in 17 games this season.