Jonathan Drouin Bio
Jonathan Drouin is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a left winger in the National Hockey League (NHL). After a standout junior career with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), he was selected third overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Over the course of his career, he has suited up for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders, and St. Louis Blues. He currently plays for the New York Islanders, the team that signed him as a free agent in July 2025.
Early Life and Background
Jonathan Drouin was born on March 28, 1995, in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, Canada. Growing up in the Laurentians region north of Montreal, he was introduced to hockey at a young age and quickly developed a reputation as a skilled forward. As a youth player, he competed in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament as a member of the Northern Selects minor ice hockey team, an event that has historically showcased many future NHL stars.
Drouin continued his development in the Quebec minor hockey system, eventually joining the Lac St-Louis Lions of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA) for the start of the 2011–12 season. His play at the Midget AAA level drew significant attention from major junior scouts, setting the stage for his transition to the QMJHL. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 201 pounds, Drouin has always relied on skill, vision, and playmaking ability rather than size to compete at every level.
Path to Hockey
Drouin’s path to professional hockey accelerated in 2011 when the Halifax Mooseheads selected him second overall in the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft. After beginning the 2011–12 season with the Lac St-Louis Lions, he joined the Mooseheads in December 2011 and made an immediate impact. In his first QMJHL game against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, he recorded two assists, including a setup of the game-winning goal. He also scored the overtime winner in Game 7 of the 2012 playoffs against the Quebec Remparts, cementing his status as a clutch performer.
During the 2012–13 season, Drouin elevated his game to new heights. He was named the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Player of the Year, helped Halifax capture the President’s Cup as QMJHL champions, and won the 2013 Memorial Cup as Canadian major junior champions. He also represented Canada at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, winning gold, and played for Canada at the 2013 World Junior Championships alongside Mooseheads teammate Nathan MacKinnon.
Jonathan Drouin Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
After being drafted third overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2013, Drouin returned to Halifax for one more junior season before beginning his professional career. He suffered a thumb fracture during the 2014–15 training camp and was briefly assigned to the Lightning’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, for a conditioning stint in October 2014. He made his NHL debut on October 20, 2014, against the Edmonton Oilers, and scored his first NHL goal four days later against the Winnipeg Jets.
Drouin finished his rookie season with four goals and 28 assists in 70 games. Despite being a healthy scratch for the first three playoff games, he made his Stanley Cup playoff debut on April 23, 2015, against the Detroit Red Wings. The Lightning advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals that year, ultimately falling in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Tampa Bay Lightning Breakthrough (2015–2017)
Drouin’s second NHL season was complicated by injuries and a public trade request. After being reassigned to the Syracuse Crunch in January 2016, his agent publicly revealed that Drouin had asked for a trade in November 2015, citing an untenable situation. He was suspended indefinitely by the Lightning before eventually reporting to the AHL affiliate, where he rediscovered his offensive touch with nine goals and one assist in nine games.
He was recalled in April 2016 and scored the game-winning goal in his return, helping Tampa Bay clinch home ice in the playoffs. He recorded his first NHL playoff goal on April 30, 2016, against the New York Islanders, and finished the postseason with five goals and nine assists in 17 games. In 2016–17, Drouin had a breakout year with 21 goals and 32 assists in 73 games.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2017–2023)
On June 15, 2017, Drouin was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, along with a conditional 2018 sixth-round pick, in exchange for Mikhail Sergachev and a conditional 2018 second-round pick. He signed a six-year, $33 million contract and wore jersey number 92. In his second season with Montreal, he matched his career high with 53 points in 81 games.
Drouin’s tenure in Montreal was marked by injuries, a leave of absence in 2020–21 for anxiety and insomnia, and ongoing production struggles. He underwent wrist surgery that ended his 2021–22 season and was a healthy scratch to begin 2022–23. He appeared in 58 games that final season with the Canadiens, recording 2 goals and 27 assists, before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2023–2025)
Drouin signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Colorado Avalanche on July 1, 2023, reuniting him with former Mooseheads teammate Nathan MacKinnon. He made his Avalanche debut on October 11, 2023, and notched his first goal with the team in November 2023 against the Seattle Kraken. He reached his 300th career point in a multi-goal performance against the Dallas Stars on January 4, 2024.
In 2023–24, Drouin set a career high with 56 points in 79 games and ranked fourth in team scoring. He re-signed with Colorado on a one-year, $2.5 million contract on July 1, 2024, but was injured in the 2024–25 season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights and missed 16 games.
New York Islanders Era (2025–Present)
The New York Islanders signed Drouin to a two-year, $8 million contract on July 1, 2025. He joined an Islanders team looking to add scoring depth and playmaking to its forward group. The move marked a fresh chapter for the veteran winger, who brought more than a decade of NHL experience to Long Island.
Driving Style and Strengths
Drouin is recognized as an elite playmaking winger with high-end vision, creativity, and puck-handling ability. He thrives when deployed in a top-six role with linemates who can finish his passes, as evidenced by his career-best 56-point season in Colorado playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon. His game emphasizes speed, transition offense, and power-play production rather than physicality, and he has shown an ability to deliver in big moments, including multiple playoff game-winning goals early in his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Drouin’s most memorable moments are his 2013 Memorial Cup win with Halifax, his first NHL playoff goal as a game-winner against the Islanders in 2016, and his 300th career NHL point with the Avalanche in 2024. He was also named CHL Player of the Year in 2013 and won gold at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament with Canada.
Jonathan Drouin Career Wins
Jonathan Drouin has collected significant team success across multiple levels of hockey. He won the 2013 Memorial Cup and the QMJHL President’s Cup with the Halifax Mooseheads, and reached the Stanley Cup Finals with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015.
QMJHL Highlights
During his time with the Halifax Mooseheads, Drouin was a driving force behind the franchise’s rise to national prominence. He was named CHL Player of the Year in 2012–13, set up and scored key goals in deep playoff runs, and helped deliver Halifax its first Memorial Cup title in 2013.
Other Wins and Performances
At the international level, Drouin won a gold medal with Canada at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. In the NHL, he has posted one 50-plus point season with Montreal in 2018–19 and a career-high 56 points with Colorado in 2023–24, establishing himself as a productive top-six winger when healthy.
Jonathan Drouin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jonathan Drouin grew up in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, in a hockey-oriented region of the province. Detailed public information about his parents and siblings is limited, and he has primarily been recognized for the team success he helped create in Halifax rather than for a multi-generational hockey lineage.
Personal Life
Drouin is in a long-term relationship with his partner, Marie-Laurence. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, on February 17, 2022. Drouin has been open about his struggles with anxiety and insomnia, particularly during his time in Montreal, and he took a leave of absence from the Canadiens during the 2020–21 season to address those health issues.
2025 Season Performance
Drouin began the 2025 calendar year still with the Colorado Avalanche before hitting unrestricted free agency. After re-signing with Colorado for one more year, he was injured in the season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on October 9, 2024, and missed 16 games before returning on November 12, 2024, against the Washington Capitals. His role with the Avalanche in 2024–25 was disrupted by that early injury, limiting his ability to build on his career-best 2023–24 campaign.
On July 1, 2025, Drouin signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the New York Islanders, signaling a clear commitment to a fresh start in a new organization. The deal provided him with a top-six opportunity and a defined role in the Islanders’ forward group. He was later traded midseason to the St. Louis Blues as part of a package that also included draft picks and prospect Marcus Gidlof in exchange for Brayden Schenn.
Drouin’s outlook going forward remains centered on staying healthy, producing offensively, and contributing to a Blues team looking to reload for a playoff push. With his contract running through 2027, he has stability and a clear opportunity to redefine his career trajectory after several injury-marred seasons.
