After years of high expectations and mounting pressure in Montreal, Jonathan Drouin is once again making headlines—this time for his candid reflections on his time with the Canadiens and the resurgence of his career elsewhere.

As Drouin prepares to begin a new chapter with the New York Islanders, his recent interview has pulled back the curtain on the emotional toll of playing in a hockey-mad market and the personal journey that followed. His six seasons in Montreal were marked by both flashes of brilliance and periods of frustration, leaving many to wonder what truly went on behind the scenes.

Now, with fresh insight into his mindset and the factors that reignited his passion for the game, Drouin’s story serves as a compelling reminder of how environment and support can make or break even the most talented athletes. His honest words not only shed light on the challenges faced by players in the spotlight, but also offer hope for a renewed sense of purpose as he embarks on the next stage of his NHL journey.

Jonathan Drouin with the Colorado Avalanche.

Photo credit: Sportsnet

After six seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Jonathan Drouin was lost, but in his recent interview, he reveals how playing Colorado brought his passion back.

Jonathan Drouin is headed to the New York Islanders for the upcoming season, marking his fourth NHL team after playing with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche dating back to the 2014/15 season.

It was the lone Canadian team that Drouin played with for the longest time, playing in six seasons for Montreal, and over that time he found some solid success, but left without any significant Stanley Cup Playoffs success.

In that pressure cooker, it appears things got quite hard for the Quebec native, as he’s opened up on his time in Montreal in his latest interview, noting that departing the team for Colorado brought his passion back.

“Things didn’t go well for me in Montreal. In Colorado, I was able to find myself and rediscover my passion for hockey. Nate (Mackinnon) and the whole organization helped me a lot. My teammates allowed me to change my outlook on the game.”

Clearly, Drouin wasn’t happy with the way he performed in Montreal, and given the constant pressure from the fans and the lack of elite level talent around him, getting to play in Colorado was seemingly the best thing for the 30-year olds career.

It’s unclear exactly what went down in Montreal with Drouin during his six years in the city, but this certainly isn’t going to make that rabid, passionate fanbase happy, but with the team moving the way it is and the veteran forward clearly moved on from his time there, it’s safe to say that departing was likely the best move for both parties in this situation.