Jonathan Drouin may no longer have an official link with the Montreal Canadiens, but his heart still seems to beat for the tricolor.
During a recent interview with Renaud Lavoie, the current Colorado Avalanche player spoke with disarming sincerity.
And although he is now far from Montreal, he still seems to closely follow what is happening there. “I’m still watching the Canadian. I watch a lot of all the matches,” he admitted bluntly, as if this link with his former team was impossible to break.
Drouin particularly mentioned the Canadian’s young star defender, Lane Hutson, without masking his admiration. “I watched the first 10 games, I think everyone thought he was amazing, but here he is on another level already”he confided.
Drouin not only saw a good player in Hutson, he saw a rare talent, a defender capable of changing the course of a match with his creativity and audacity.
For Drouin, Hutson’s rapid progression symbolizes everything the Canadian is doing well at the moment.
The CH has become a team where young talents, like Hutson, can not only express themselves, but also flourish.
The former number 92 also wanted to emphasize the importance of the environment created by Martin St-Louis and Stéphane Robidas.
“I think he’s in a good place too with Martin, with Stéphane Robidas. People are really good at talking individually”he explained.
This comment is not trivial. It illustrates the cultural change within the Canadiens, where young players are supported and encouraged to learn from their mistakes.
Drouin continued: “I think he makes mistakes, but it doesn’t matter. I think the coaches are pushing him on the ice and he continues to improve. »
A philosophy that he believes is crucial to the development of a player like Hutson.
But what was most striking was the way Drouin spoke of the pleasure found in this team. “You see he has fun, me too”he declared, with a smile that spoke volumes about his own journey.
Pleasure is something that often seemed to elude him in Montreal, where high expectations and incessant criticism often relegated him to the shadows.
Seeing the young CH players play with enthusiasm and confidence seems to have struck a chord with him.
We feel a touch of nostalgia, as if he was wondering what his career in Montreal could have been like in such an environment.
Drouin also took the time to talk about Hutson’s unique style, comparing certain aspects of his game to those of great defenders he has encountered in his career.
“I compare him to Quinn Hughes. I think he has a similar style, but he has some things that are very different.»he observed, highlighting the young defender’s fluidity and vision of the game.
And we can guess that it is not only a technical analysis, but also a real admiration for the player and what he represents: the bright future of the Canadian.
The interview revealed a side of Drouin that fans may not have always seen: a man who, despite the ups and downs, remains a lover of hockey and the organization that welcomed him.
He also spoke about the importance of gradual development and patience with young players. “It’s fun to see a young person like that, who is not nervous, who is not stressed about making a mistake”he added, speaking of the state of mind cultivated by St-Louis and his team.
But beyond the praise for the CH, it is difficult not to detect a certain melancholy in his words.
Perhaps he wonders what his time in Montreal would have been like if he had the same support that players like Hutson receive today.
Perhaps he reflects on what he could have accomplished in an organization that values the joy of playing and constant learning so much.
In the end, Jonathan Drouin looks at the Canadian’s lineup with a mixture of admiration and nostalgia.
He sees a team that has turned the page, learned from its mistakes and is building something special around promising young talent.
And even though he’s wearing a different jersey today, it’s clear that Montreal still holds a special place in his heart.
This invisible but powerful bond between a player and a team he left behind is proof that some stories never completely fade away.
Amen
