Just when it seemed like Jonathan Drouin was finding his stride with the Colorado Avalanche, the snakebitten winger is back on the shelf. Head coach Jared Bednar announced Wednesday that Drouin is considered week-to-week with an upper body injury sustained in the Avs’ last game.
Drouin Makes Early Exit After Promising Performance
The 29-year-old Drouin had missed the first 16 games of the season with a previous upper body issue before making his Avalanche debut on October 9th. He was just rounding into form and flashing the skill that prompted Colorado to sign him as a free agent, scoring his first two goals of the year in a 7-4 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
However, Drouin’s night ended early and he was nowhere to be seen on the bench by the third period. He was also scratched for the Avs’ next game, an 8-2 drubbing at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday. Now we know why.
Bednar Classifies Drouin as “Week-to-Week”
“Obviously, it’s an upper body injury again,” Bednar told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “He came back and played well for us, scored a couple goals, but now he’s going to miss some time. I’d say he’s week-to-week at this point.”
Though Bednar declined to offer specifics on Drouin’s ailment, it’s troubling that the winger is dealing with another upper body injury so soon after returning from his previous one. With his history of concussions and neck issues during his time with the Montreal Canadiens, there will certainly be heightened concern until more details emerge on the nature and severity of this particular setback.
An Avalanche of Injuries Up Front
Drouin’s absence, however long it lasts, is the latest blow to a Colorado forward group that has been decimated by injuries through the first quarter of the season. Captain Gabriel Landeskog has yet to play as he recovers from knee surgery. Valeri Nichushkin and Darren Helm are on long-term injured reserve. Several other wingers have missed time as well.
The Avalanche were counting on Drouin to provide some scoring punch and playmaking on the wings after signing him to a one-year, $1.5 million “prove-it” deal in the offseason. The talented but inconsistent forward was coming off a career year with Montreal in 2023-24, notching 19 goals and 56 points.
With top-six minutes and power play time there for the taking in Colorado, Drouin was eager to prove he could stay healthy and continue producing in more of a supporting role on a Cup contender. His two-goal performance against the Panthers offered a glimpse of that promise, but now his potential impact is back on hold.
Opportunity Knocks for Avalanche Youngsters
In the meantime, Bednar and the Avs will have to make do with what they have in the face of these early season injury woes. The upside is that the absences have created more opportunities for some of Colorado’s young forwards to step up and prove themselves.
Martin Kaut, a 2018 first round pick who seemed to be running out of chances to stick with the big club, has impressed in an expanded role on the second line, notching seven points in 14 games so far. Younger prospects like Sampo Ranta, Oskar Olausson and Jean-Luc Foudy could also see NHL action sooner than expected.
“You never want to see this many guys out, but that’s the reality sometimes,” Bednar said. “It tests your depth and challenges guys to elevate and fulfill bigger roles. Some of these young guys are already showing they can contribute, so we’ll keep putting them in position to do that.”
Still, the Avalanche will eagerly await Drouin’s return to the fold once he’s fully healed and cleared to play. When he was signed, the hope was that a change of scenery and a better supporting cast could help the 2013 3rd overall pick finally display his tantalizing tools on a contending team. The early returns were promising, if brief.
Now Drouin is back in the all too familiar position of having to work his way back from injury and prove himself all over again. For the snakebitten winger and the depleted Avalanche, the frustrating waiting game continues.
