Jonathan Drouin entered this season with a lot to prove, and the Montreal Canadiens need him to prove it. Unfortunately, he left the match against the Detroit Red Wings early after taking a puck to the head in the first period.
Jonathan Drouin ne reviendra pas au jeu ce soir. Il a quitté pour l’hôpital pour y subir une évaluation approfondie.
Jonathan Drouin will not return to the game. He went to the hospital for further evaluation.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 3, 2021
Jonathan Drouin Injured
The Canadiens lost a big part of their offence with Drouin leaving the arena after playing just 2:27. He was in front of Alex Nedeljkovic when a shot from defenceman Brett Kulak struck Drouin. He left the ice under his own power, but it was announced he would not return before the second period started.
What This Means
High expectations have followed Drouin since his selection third overall in 2013 by the Tampa Bay Lightning. They didn’t go down with his trade to the Habs. His first two seasons in Montreal went fairly well, if below sky-high expectations. For the next two – between the pressures of the game and the changes in the world at large – his numbers suffered. He famously pulled himself before a match against the Calgary Flames in the 2020-21 season, not returning that year.
This season, he’s back and going strong, leading the team in scoring with two goals and seven points in ten games. He joins a slew of Habs injured, including forwards Paul Byron – who has yet to play this year – and Mattieu Perrault. Adam Brooks, recently picked up off of waivers, has played two games with the team. He seems likely the man at the bottom of the pile pushing everyone else up. Nick Suzuki will take on top-line duties with Christian Dvorak and Jake Evans likely getting the rest.
Montreal is a long way from a playoff spot, and with Jonathan Drouin injured, any extended absence is going to hurt. Blows to the head are hard to predict, but hopefully, he’ll be back soon.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
