Avalanche forward nominated for Masterton Trophy
One of Colorado's top forwards found success with a new team and a change of scenery — which contributed to his nomination for a prestigious NHL award.
The Professional Hockey Writers Association Colorado chapter has nominated Jonathan Drouin for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the PHWA announced Friday.
The accolade is awarded “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey,” according to the NHL.
Drouin was acquired in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent from the Montreal Canadiens where he spent six seasons. The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract for $825,000 and will become a UFA after this season unless the Avalanche sign him to another deal.
The Ste-Agathe, Quebec native's path to the Avs was not pure fate — his QMJHL Halifax Mooseheads teammate Nathan MacKinnon had a hand in bringing him to the Centennial State.
"It’s been better (than I imagined). Talking to Nate this summer and other guys, I knew I was coming to a hell of a hockey team with a lot of good people. It has exceeded my expectations of how we play hockey and how we are as a team, the people we have here," Drouin told The Denver Post's Corey Masisak and Guerilla Sports' Jesse Montano. "I think the one thing is this team is very dedicated – off-ice, on-ice, practices, all the details. It’s the same with the staff. Right now as we’re getting ready for the playoffs, those details are all we talk about and we try to go out there and make our game even better than it is."
Drouin has played on the top line with MacKinnon at center and forward Mikko Rantanen the majority of the season but success did not come immediately to the 5-foot-11 forward.
"He loves hockey. That I know for sure. He watches a lot of hockey and he’s very into it," Rantanen said of his teammate. "I think in the past he’s had some tougher times, but the way he’s involved now, how much he wants to get better at it, how he’s always talking about it, I think it’s a good choice."
Drouin's path to the NHL was not very successful after being drafted third overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2013. He was was not quite ready his first season and returned to the QMJHL. He spent three seasons (2014-2017) with the Lightning before being traded to the Canadiens for Mikhail Sergachev after the 2016-17 season.
Drouin publicly admitted that he suffered from anxiety and sleep deprivation during his last years with the Canadiens.
"I've said it before — ever since I kind of wanted to get help, I didn't know it was going to be beneficial. You think you're good enough, you think you're strong enough to do it on your own and you've been doing it for ... three years," Drouin told The Hockey News' Colleen Flynn at the start of the season. "Ever since I got that help for me, I have tips now, people to talk to, stuff to go back on to help the anxiety if it happens or any stress level or whatever it is."
The Avalanche ended up a good fit for Drouin — he has 51 points in 73 games with 34 assists, just one shy of his career-high 35, and six games left to play.
"That love of the game really came back last year and even more this year. I owe a lot of credit to the guys here, the staff, for helping me find that love and that passion again, but it also never really ever left, either," Drouin said.
It is an honor and "awesome" for Drouin to be nominated and most definitely well-deserved. The winner will be announced at the NHL awards ceremony after the Stanley Cup Final has concluded.
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