Jonathan Drouin Done For The Season After Wrist Surgery

During the the 3-2 loss for the Montreal Canadiens to the Toronto Maple LeafsTVA Sports NHL Insider Renaud Lavoie, Montreal Canadiens winger Jonathan Drouin is done for the season after having successful surgery on his right wrist.

Jonathan Drouin needed a surgery on his right wrist. That was done in New York Friday to repair torn ligaments. Everything went well I’m told and he will be ready for training camp. @CanadiensMTL

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) April 10, 2022

The Montreal Canadiens confirmed Lavoie’s report just under two hours later and following the loss to the Leafs.

Jonathan Drouin underwent wrist surgery on Friday.

He is expected to make a full recovery and will be ready for the start of training camp.

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 10, 2022

The Montreal native has and is a lightning for criticism due to his injury-riddled tenure with the Canadiens since being acquired – along with a conditional 2018 sixth round draft pick – from the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenceman Mikhail Sergachev at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Since scoring 18 goals to go with 35 assists in 81 games during the 2018-19 regular season, Drouin hasn’t played more than 44 games in a season. His best season during that span, came during that 44-game season when he had two goals and 21 assists. The Montreal Canadiens winger showed promise this season when he’s been healthy but he hasn’t played since March 21 and has six goals and 14 assists in 34 games.

When Drouin when back on injured reserve in late March, he once again became an easy target for critics with former Montreal Canadiens enforcer and local radio host Chris Nilan going on an insulting rant and poking fun at Drouin for being injured again. Nilan was immediately called out for his lack of empathy considering Drouin has previously taken time off for mental health issues and that Nilan has been an advocate for mental health awareness. Nilan has since apologized but the controversy and NHL trade rumours surrounding Drouin will likely increase again now with the latest news on his career.

While it may look bleak from the outside with regards to Drouin’s future and whether another team would take a chance on him now, the Canadiens may still be able to get some value for the third overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft despite the injuries.

“It’s a shame this kid keeps having this luck. He deserves better,” an NHL source opined on Drouin to MHN two weeks ago.

Jonathan Drouin has one more season left on his contract that carries a $5.5 million cap hit and has a modified no-trade clause.