Islanders Excited About Drouin’s Arrival

The Islanders are buzzing about signing Jonathan Drouin, who hails from Stee Agate, Quebec. Earlier this week, he had conversations with former Islanders Anthony Beauvillier and Derick Brassard. Drouin shared that he inked an $8 million deal with the team during free agency, though he felt a bit surreal—it seems he hadn’t even had a chat with general manager Mathieu Darche yet.

“It’s an exciting time,” Drouin said after his first practice with the team. “[Darche] is new here, thinking on his feet. His vision for the team and the future is intriguing. I mean, I’m not exactly in my early twenties anymore, but it’s still thrilling to see what he brings to the table.”

At training camp, Drouin is skating on the top line alongside Bo Horvat and Maxim Shabanov. This indicates that the Islanders are focusing on wingers who could significantly impact the upcoming season.

Moreover, Drouin is anticipated to play a crucial role in the power play.

“This is a solid team,” he noted, reflecting on the Islanders. “They were competitive last year. I think [Mathew] Barzal missed a hefty chunk of games due to injuries, and while many teams face that, when this squad is healthy, just look at the lineup! They have plenty of talent across the board, including solid defense pairings. And, of course, [Ilya] Sorokin is an incredible goalie.”

In practice, Adam Pelech was seen using a jaw protector but had no restrictions on his movements.

Head coach Patrick Roy expressed his admiration for how Barzal performed during his first practice back after suffering a season-ending knee injury. “We were all eager to see how he skated,” he commented. “I’m really pleased.”