Leave or Stay: Jonathan Drouin Enters Third Straight Year as UFA

It wouldn’t be outlandish to say that most of the goodwill Jonathan Drouin has built over the last two years with the Avalanche was washed away because of his poor playoff showing against the Dallas Stars.

Drouin’s future with the team is a mystery. I genuinely don’t know what the team thinks of him, or where they see him fit. And more importantly, how much money they think he’s worth.

In regular season play, Drouin has 93 points over the last two seasons in 122 games. That’s basically 63 points in every 82 games. Among all forwards, he’s third behind Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen since joining the Avalanche. He’s got more points than Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen, and Ross Colton.

That’s a pretty solid contributor.

But there are reasons why he might not be back. A lot of them.

For starters, the return of Gabe Landeskog makes it a tougher fit. With Martin Necas, Landeskog, Nichushkin, and Lehkonen all locked in for at least another year, it’s hard to find a spot in the top six for Drouin. And if he’s not playing in the top six, is he a useful contributor? The last seven games say otherwise.

Also, injuries haven’t helped his cause. Drouin is 30 years old and was in and out of the lineup quite a bit this season. He also got injured in Game 82 in 2024 and missed the entire Winnipeg series. The Avs have suffered through a lot of uncertainty in their forward group. Nichushkin is often injured or absent, Lehkonen doesn’t exactly have a full bill of health, and who knows what Landeskog’s future will look like?

Is it worth keeping Drouin despite all of that? Or would the team rather use his money on a more reliable player?

And speaking of which, what kind of contract is Drouin looking for? There were times last year when it felt like Drouin was worthy of a 4+ year contract. But at this point, will the Avs be willing to pull the trigger on another more than a year or two? If so, would Drouin go elsewhere to get term on his next deal?

These are all questions that need to be answered by July 1.

Scenario 1: He Leaves

If he’s looking for term, or anything more than $3-3.5 million per season, then the Avs will likely say goodbye to Drouin.

Scenario 2: He Stays

If he’s willing to sign for one or two years, at no more than $6 million, I can see Chris MacFarland entertaining the idea of keeping him. But this would also only happen if other money is moved out. Whether it’s Ross Colton, Miles Wood, or both. As currently constructed, the Avs can’t afford Drouin and don’t have a place for him in the lineup. Especially if they’re going to use a large chunk of their salary cap space on a No. 2 center

Final Verdict

I’ve gone back and forth on this for a week, but I think he ultimately stays.

Playing on the third line won’t get the most out of this player. But I do think having him allows the Avs to spread the wealth. For example, if Lehkonen and Charlie Coyle build chemistry, why not play Drouin in the top six and have three strong lines?

I’m an optimistic guy, but even I know that there’s pretty much no chance that the top six goes the entire season without an injury. So why not keep Drouin for that reason? He was nearly a point per game player last year despite all of his injury issues. It doesn’t hurt to have him as an “in case of emergency, break glass” option.

I also think MacKinnon wants him here, and the Avs would be wise to keep him for that reason, too.

I bet he stays, and it’s a two-year contract with a $2.9 million AAV. And the Avs move Wood to fit him in.

Drouin is worth far more than that, but this is one of those unique situations where the player truly has found a home. I don’t think he’d want to mess with happy, or the opportunity to continue to play with his pal MacKinnon.

What say you?