The Colorado Avalanche has a special player for its lineup! So special that even the head coach trusts him enough to offer him “any mission in any situation.” Now, that’s a statement so bold for Jonathan Drouin to ignore. While being one of the best hitters for the Avs, Drouin could be as offensive as a last-minute goal at your rival! Well, for this time, the story has a different plot, though with the same ending—Drouin helping the Avs win the match! But how?

Hitting up straight is the advice that worked out for the Colorado Avalanche! That is where the plot turned. To say that a veteran player assisted his coach in making a game-changing call that helped the Avs win is just about accurate! A 5-4 against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, March 24, and that was massive. After all, experience speaks louder than anything!

NHL insider Jesse Montano explained it clearly on X by sharing Jared Bednar‘s interview clip. Bednar mentioned how Drouin advised him to send Brock Nelson for a shootout play against the Canadiens’ goaltender, Samuel Montembeault, instead of himself. “It did, and the Avs won the game,” read the X post. Well, it looks like Drouin has enough knowledge about the Canadiens’ strategic moves and playing styles! After all, being a former Canadien, he knows the right place to push the puck!

Drouin played six years with the Canadiens, making it very obvious for him to have an upper hand in terms of strategy for his current team. His suggestion for sending Nelson to the shootout play obviously turned out the best, because he knew that Nelson’s playing style could offend Montembeault. “I was getting ready to go with Drouin, and Drouin told me to go with Nelson, that his move would beat him,” Bednar confirmed.

Drouin’s scouting definitely led the Avs to victory. And, believe it or not, a seasoned player’s insight on their former team isn’t technically considered as cheating. In fact, its not even uncommon. Coaches relying on player insight is probably the only strategy that consistently works. And, Drouin, well he has a lot more to offer. With over more than 100 goals this season, he raked up an assist last night on the power play! So when Bednar said Drouin is the best man for “any mission in any situation”, we don’t doubt it. Not one bit.

The Colorado Avalanche just keeps getting mightier

It was in a win against the Dallas Stars when Drouin hit the significant milestone—his 100th career goal. And he wasn’t alone; Cale Makar accompanied him in hitting the same record on the same day! The Colorado Avalanche proved why they are among the NHL’s elite teams! “You’re watching one of the best defensemen that’s ever played the game. There’s no question,” Bednar stated about Makar.

Even for the latest win against the Canadiens, the defenseman pointed out that the game was a huge learning experience by acknowledging that the team needs to maintain focus for the full 60 minutes, as small lapses can quickly turn into bigger problems! “You go up 4-1, and I don’t think you can sit back. We know that there’s three-quarters of a period at that time left, and it’s a weird one. I think you mentally check out for that half second and that’s when they get that opportunity, and it kind of compounds, and compounds,” Makar said.

Consistency plays a key role in any development or anything big, and that’s exactly where the Avs players keep their focus. Throughout the season, they have been giving their best, which has earned them respect and now even trust from the head coach for players like Drouin and Makar! After all, his ability to contribute offensively makes him not only a scoring threat but a leader on the ice. And for his advice—“the players often know a little bit more than us from watching each other after practices, before practice, from conversations. So Drew actually made that call on that one tonight.”