Jonathan Drouin (born March 28, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played with the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League (NHL). Drouin was selected in the first round, third overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2013 NHL entry draft. He has also played for the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, and New York Islanders.
As a youth, Drouin played in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Northern Selects minor ice hockey team.
Drouin was drafted second overall by the Halifax Mooseheads in the 2011 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) entry draft. After starting the 2011–12 season at the Midget AAA level with the Lac St-Louis Lions of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA), it was announced on December 9, 2011 that Drouin would join the Mooseheads. In his first QMJHL game, against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Drouin recorded two assists, including a set-up of the game-winning goal. Drouin was also a key member of Halifax's 2012 playoff success, most notably scoring the overtime winning goal in Game 7 against the Quebec Remparts.
On November 7, 2012, Drouin represented Team QMJHL in Game 2 of the Subway Super Series against Russian junior players; he scored a goal and added three assists. Drouin missed the first game of the series due to a foot injury. At the conclusion of the 2012–13 season, Drouin was named the CHL Player of the Year. He would continue to be an integral player for the Mooseheads during the 2013 playoffs, helping the team win the President's Cup and the 2013 Memorial Cup.
On June 30, 2013, after his highly-successful season, Drouin was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, third overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft. Days later, on July 5, he was signed to a three-year contract by the Lightning. However, Drouin was cut from the Lightning roster at the beginning of the 2013–14 season, returning to the Mooseheads for the QMJHL season.
Tampa Bay Lightning (2014–2017)
During the Lightning's 2014–15 training camp, Drouin sustained an injury. Days later, on September 9, 2014, the Lightning announced Drouin would miss three-to-four weeks with a slight fracture in his thumb. On October 16, Drouin was assigned to Tampa Bay's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, on a conditioning stint. The rehabilitation assignment was initially slated for a maximum of two weeks, though it was stated he could be recalled prior to that timeline. However, just three days later on October 19, the Lightning recalled Drouin from his conditioning assignment with the Crunch; he registered one goal, two assists and a +4 plus-minus rating during his AHL stint.
On October 20, 2014, Drouin made his NHL debut against the Edmonton Oilers. The following day, he recorded his first NHL assist on a Valtteri Filppula goal in Tampa Bay's 2–1 overtime victory over the Calgary Flames. He then scored his first NHL goal on October 24 against goaltender Ondřej Pavelec of the Winnipeg Jets. Drouin finished the 2014–15 season, his rookie season, playing in 70 games with four goals, 28 assists and 32 points. After being a healthy scratch for the first three games in the first round of the 2015 playoffs, Drouin made his Stanley Cup playoff debut on April 23, 2015, in Game four against the Detroit Red Wings. As the playoffs went on, the Lightning would reach the Stanley Cup Finals where they would fall in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks. Drouin would finish his first playoff with six games played with no points
On January 2, 2016, Drouin was reassigned to the Syracuse Crunch. Due to injury, he had been limited to only 19 games in the 2015–16 season, and had only played in five games since mid-November. Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman stated at the time there was no set date for his return to the NHL. Yzerman also stated, "[H]e's been dealing with a minor nagging injury that is finally healed. With everyone coming back at the same time, it's a good opportunity to get a young player a lot of ice time, get his game right back on top and bring him back at the appropriate time." On January 3, Drouin's agent, Allan Walsh, issued a statement on his behalf, revealing that Drouin had made a trade request in November 2015, but had kept the matter private. Walsh referred to it as an "untenable situation" and that it was in everyone's best interest that Drouin be allowed to move on and play hockey. On January 20, the Lightning announced Drouin had been suspended indefinitely without pay for a failure to report to the Crunch's game against the Toronto Marlies that day. Drouin's agent Allan Walsh again issued another statement after the suspension was announced by the Lightning. According to Walsh, a few days prior, the Lightning had informed Drouin a trade was close to being completed. Walsh proposed to the team that Drouin not play due to the impending trade; however, the Lightning decided against this. Walsh further stated Drouin was not willing to risk being injured, and that due to the situation "it is clearly in the best interests that the Tampa Bay Lightning trade Jonathan as there is no reason for Jonathan to continue with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization in any capacity". Lightning GM Steve Yzerman held a press conference the following day, denying Walsh's claim there was a trade nearing. Yzerman stated, "We've never said there was a pending deal or a deal close." Yzerman further stated the Lightning were still "actively and aggressively trying to find a deal that works" to trade Drouin. According to Yzerman, there was still "significant" interest from teams, but the way things have played out would make a trade more difficult to make. Yzerman also reiterated his point that he is working for the best interest of the team, and that Drouin's actions put no pressure on him to make a trade. On March 8, Drouin reported to the Crunch for the first time since he was suspended by the Lightning on January 20. Drouin told the media he believed the relationship between him and the team was fine, and that they would fix the situation over the summer. Drouin also said he planned on putting in the work to try to gain a call-up. On April 4, the Lightning recalled Drouin from Syracuse after a nine-game stint. He had recorded nine goals and one assist during his recent stint with the Crunch. Three days later, Drouin recorded the game-winning goal in his return. Drouin helped the Lightning defeat the New Jersey Devils, which resulted in the Lightning clinching home ice for the opening round of the 2016 playoffs for their second consecutive first round matchup against the Detroit Red Wings. On April 15, Drouin recorded his first career NHL playoff assist and point on a Brian Boyle goal in a 5–2 Lightning victory over the Red Wings. On April 30, Drouin recorded his first NHL playoff goal in a 4–1 Lightning win over the New York Islanders. Drouin became the fourth Lightning player whose first NHL playoff goal was a game-winning goal. After the Lightning defeated the Islanders in the second round, they would face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals where they would be defeated by the Penguins in seven games, one win short from a second straight appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. Drouin finished the 2016 playoffs with five goals, nine assists for 14 points in all 17 games played.
Drouin had a breakout season during the 2016–17 season where he played 73 contests with 21 goals, 32 assists and 53 points recorded as the Lightning would miss the 2017 playoffs by one point in the standings, marking the first time since 2013 where the team failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Montreal Canadiens (2017–2023)
On June 15, 2017, Drouin was traded by the Lightning, along with a conditional 2018 sixth-round draft pick, to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for prospect Mikhail Sergachev and a conditional 2018 second-round pick. As a restricted free agent, he was then promptly signed to a six-year, $33 million contract with the Canadiens. He took the number 92 jersey.