One of the most interesting pieces the Blues acquired during the trade deadline was Jonathan Drouin. The 30-year-old forward was part of the deal that sent Brayden Schenn to the Islanders. He wasted no time getting into the good graces of the Blues fanbase. During the second period of Sunday's game against the Ducks, the Blues were on a power play. Drouin ripped a snapshot from the right circle into the back of the net to give the Blues a 2-0 lead.
After just one game, Drouin already looks comfortable. It looks like he does not need an adjustment period and can make an impact right away. But with the Blues entering a rebuild/retooling period, what role could Drouin have? How does a 30-year-old fit on a team that's looking to get young talent and find its next core? With what we have seen from Drouin this season, he can be the perfect middle-six forward for this team going forward.
Jonathan Drouin can be a staple of the Blues middle six
Drouin is in the middle of a pretty average season by his standards. In 56 games between the Islanders and Blues, he has racked up four goals and 18 assists for 22 points. He is currently on pace for roughly 39 points, which is just over his career average. His advanced numbers show that he's making a bigger impact than his counting stats suggest. According to Natural Stat Trick, when he was with the Islanders, he had a 51.20 CF%, a 48.33 SCF%, and a 46.18 xG%.
Although his point total is close to his career average, he's underperforming in terms of goals. When he's able to play a full season, he usually sits between 15 and 20 goals. This makes him capable of being a 50-point player. This is the perfect player to put on the second line and drive towards the net. He can also produce at the same level if he's bumped to the third line. This will only lengthen the lineup and give the Blues much-needed scoring depth.
He can also be one of the Blues' main power play weapons. Over his career, he has notched 29 goals and 102 assists for 131 points on the power play. He also has great metrics on the power play this season. According to Natural Stat Trick, he has a 89.17 CF%, a 92.57 SCF%, and a 91.91 xG% on the Islanders' power play. This is the perfect production for a top-unit forward. He's someone who can be the set-up guy and rack up a lot of assists.
Having a veteran for Drouin can do a lot for the locker room. With the Blues having a bunch of young talent, plus more on the way, they need veterans. Next season, we should see an influx of young talent, and the Blues will need some sort of mentor for them. Someone who can step up and show these young players what it takes to make it in the NHL. Although he's only under contract until the end of next season, he can still take up this leadership role.
While injuries will always be a concern for Drouin, he is a good player for a team like the Blues. He's someone that can help bridge the gap into the Blues next era of contention.