The 2018-19 season has been one to forget for Montreal Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin.

The 23-year-old’s season started off with a bang, recording 46 points through his first 55 games. But Drouin’s cooled off dramatically lately with just six in his last 20 (four assists came in one game against the Detroit Red Wings) and has just one goal over that stretch. A slump like this would be swept under the rug in some cities, but not Montreal. NOPE. Drouin touched on the pressure of playing in hockey’s most victorious city and shared his belief that fans and the media have been a bit too critical of him.

 

Fans didn’t hesitate to share their thoughts on his comments.

 

It’s not exactly a surprise that fans and the media have been putting some heat on Drouin. A third overall pick in 2013, the Quebec native tallied 53 points in 73 games before getting shipped to the Habs in exchange for 2016 ninth overall defenceman Mikhail Sergachev in the summer of 2017. Since the trade, the former will potentially be looking at a second consecutive season without a postseason birth while the latter has been a significant piece on a Stanley Cup contender. So yeah, logically there’s been a bit of extra pressure attached to Drouin’s name.

And for the record, he’s nowhere close to the top of the league in giveaways with 45. Panthers defenceman Michael Matheson leads the league with 120 through 70 games.

 

Montreal is currently clinging on to the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot by a thread with a two point lead on the Columbus Blue Jackets. Depsite being third on the team in points (Max Domi leads with 67), fans will be expecting more out of him as the Habs try to make their way to spring hockey.

(H/T John Lu)