We all know the immense talent of Jonathan Drouin, so imagine him paired with Sidney Crosby!
Jo has a very high hockey IQ and needs talented players around him to be at his best.
We saw it this season when he played with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. After a slow start, he found his groove and became indispensable to the Avalanche's success.
This season has somewhat dispelled doubts about him. Drouin played 79 games and tallied 56 points, his best career total.
The Avalanche face salary cap issues with the uncertainty surrounding Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog. Both could return to play, which totals over $13 million.
Jo deserves a significant raise, and it will be difficult to re-sign him unless he agrees to a discount.
Pittsburgh journalist Dan Kingerski has suggested that Drouin could replace Jake Guentzel in Pittsburgh and become Sidney Crosby's new partner.
"If there's a player on the market who could come close to Guentzel, it's Drouin. However, the playmaking winger has not yet fully exploited his talent over his ten-year career.
After overcoming personal issues, he had a good season with the Colorado Avalanche and his friend Nathan MacKinnon, scoring 18 goals and setting career highs with 37 assists and 56 points. Drouin, 29, should sign a new contract worth around $5 million for four years." - Dan Kingerski
Drouin's two-way game would be a real advantage for Pittsburgh, who have clearly not thrown in the towel yet.
"His defensive work has also been recognized. Drouin would represent a continuation of the Penguins' skill and talent, but at a lower cost, leaving more money for other needs." - Dan Kingerski
Playing with one of his best friends in Nathan MacKinnon is great, but playing with a legend like Crosby, who still excels at his age, is also a very good thing.
Many ordinary players have looked extraordinary alongside Crosby, and with Jo's talent, it could really ignite something special.
