Flynn’s Take: What Makes Jonathan Drouin’s Return a Unique Challenge

The Colorado Avalanche are expected to get another top forward back in the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Jonathan Drouin may be ready to play Tuesday night.

“He’s looking like he could be good to go for Winnipeg. We’ll see how he gets through today’s practice, what tomorrow presents, but obviously been ramping up when we’ve been on the road,” Bednar said on Saturday.

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Drouin has missed the last 16 games due to a lingering upper-body injury. He was hurt in the first game of the season and did not return until Nov. 15. He played four games before getting re-injured and has been out since Nov. 26.

The Avalanche have had to maintain the “next man up” mentality with injuries creating a rotating lineup. With Drouin’s return, there will only be three players out — the fewest all season.

Where Will Drouin Slot In?

The 29-year-old earned four points in five games playing on the top two lines and the top power-play unit. He was held scoreless in two of those five games but helped secure three consecutive wins and contributed two goals and two assists in the short stint he was in the lineup.

Ross Colton filled Drouin’s spot on the left wing with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, and on the top PP unit before breaking his foot and missing a month and a half.

Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin have been successful on the top line with MacKinnon as of late, while Rantanen has shifted back and forth with Nichushkin on the top two lines.

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Colton returned on Dec. 7 and has two points in 10 games on the second line with Casey Mittelstadt. Bednar said he wanted to get Colton back on the top line but since Lehkonen and Nichushkin have found chemistry, he has not made a change.

Mittelstadt has been struggling to get out of an extensive production drought and has not been able to link up with his wingers for a consistent second line. Adding Drouin back in gives the team more depth but creates a challenge with an excess of top-six forwards.

“He’s going through it. He’s gone through the challenges. I have a lot of confidence in Casey, in his ability to be able to get this back on track, but it’s lasted longer than what I would like,” Bednar said.

Possible Line Changes

A strategic lineup adjustment will be necessary. Bednar sticks with his hot hands so I’m not expecting him to move anyone on his first or third lines. Here are my possible scenarios:

1. Drouin to start on the fourth line: It makes the most sense to start Drouin back on limited ice time until he finds his timing and legs. It would be a way to spread out the team’s depth in bottom-line matchups. Drouin’s versatility would make him an effective contributor but his ability exceeds the lack of ice time he would get on that line, so he would not spend much time there.

2. Shift Colton down, move Drouin up: Colton has not been on the scoresheet much since his return but that’s not for lack of effort. He’s played an integral part on the power play unit but has not found cohesiveness on the second line with Mittelstadt.

3. Drouin with Mittelstadt and Rantanen: Pairing Drouin with Mittelstadt and Rantanen creates an intriguing blend of playmaking and scoring. Drouin’s vision combined with Rantanen’s elite skill set and Mittelstadt’s potential could be a potent combination—if they find chemistry.

4. Contingency for Mittelstadt: If Mittelstadt struggles to connect in that new arrangement, demoting him to the fourth line signals the coaching staff’s intent to hold players accountable while maximizing performance across the lineup. Colton moving up to center the second line showcases his adaptability and suggests confidence in his ability to elevate offensive production.

“We got to do what’s best for the team, and he’s gonna have to grind his way through it with some of our help,” Bednar said.

Any of these scenarios could happen in combination or flip-flopping around to find the right fit. Bednar has the unique opportunity to utilize several high-level players up and down his lineup and he does so with whoever is most effective.

Consistency has been an issue with the team for the first half of the season and it has just recently started to come together. The saying “Don’t mess with a winning hand” is in full force with the team right now. They have gelled together to win their last four in a row and Bednar faces tough decisions with Drouin’s return.