Should the Avalanche resign Jonathan Drouin?
Photo credit: Daily Faceoff
It wouldn't be outlandish to say that most of the goodwill Jonathan Drouin has built over the last two years with the Avalanche was washed away because of his poor playoff showing against the Dallas Stars.
Drouin's status with the team remains uncertain. It's unclear what the organization's opinion of him is, where they envision his role, and crucially, how much they believe he should be paid.
Should the Avalanche resign Drouin this summer?
Aarif Deen from Colorado Hockey Now writes that during the regular season, Drouin has tallied 93 points in 122 games over the past two years, which projects to about 63 points per full 82-game season. Since joining the Avalanche, he ranks third in points among forwards, only behind Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, and has outscored teammates like Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen, and Ross Colton.
"For starters, the return of Gabe Landeskog makes it a tougher fit. With Martin Necas, Landeskog, Nichushkin, and Lehkonen all locked in for at least another year, it's hard to find a spot in the top six for Drouin. And if he's not playing in the top six, is he a useful contributor? The last seven games say otherwise." -Deen
Injuries have also worked against Drouin. At 30 years old, he missed significant time this season due to being in and out of the lineup, including an injury in Game 82 of 2024 that sidelined him for the entire Winnipeg playoff series. The Avalanche's forward group has faced a lot of uncertainty, Nichushkin frequently struggles with injuries or absences, Lehkonen hasn't been fully healthy, and Landeskog's future remains uncertain.
"Is it worth keeping Drouin despite all of that? Or would the team rather use his money on a more reliable player?" -Deen
If Drouin is seeking a longer contract or a salary above $3 to $3.5 million per year, the Avalanche will probably let him go. But if Drouin is open to signing another one or two-year deal for no more than $6 million, I can see GM Chris MacFarland considering keeping him. However, that would only be possible if the team moves out other players like Ross Colton, Miles Wood, or both.
As things stand, the Avalanche can't afford Drouin or fit him into the lineup, especially if they plan to spend a big portion of their salary cap on a second-line center.
"I also think MacKinnon wants him here, and the Avs would be wise to keep him for that reason, too." -Deen
This is one of those rare cases where the player has really found a place where he feels comfortable. I doubt he'd want to risk upsetting a good situation or giving up the chance to keep playing alongside his friend MacKinnon.
| POLL | ||
MAI 15 | 11 ANSWERS Should the Avalanche resign Jonathan Drouin? Do you think the Avalanche should resign forward Jonathan Drouin this offseason? | ||
| yes | 8 | 72.7 % |
| no | 3 | 27.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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