Getting traded to your childhood team doesn't change you, except... Hugo Fontaine | Translated by Dan Braverman @canadiensmtl | July 14th, 2017

Jonathan Drouin's life changed completely on the afternoon of June 15. Used to summering in his home province during the NHL offseason, the electrifying forward cancelled his return flight to Tampa that day after learning that the Lightning had traded him to the Canadiens - the same Canadiens he grew up rooting for. A month has now passed since his inaugural press conference at his new home arena, and while things have quieted down since his initial days as a Hab, that was hardly the case when the news first broke.

"The dust is starting to settle. At the beginning, everyone was talking to me about it all the time, but it's starting to calm down. I spent a few days at my parents' place in the Laurentians, especially right after the trade," recalled Drouin, who was acquired from the Lightning in exchange for defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. "I wanted to get out of Montreal for a bit because I knew it'd be a little crazy. I often go up on weekends, but I'm in the city during the week. "It's a big change for everyone: my friends, my family, but especially my parents. They're really happy about it. It's fun for them too," continued the Habs' new No. 92. "They'll be able to just take a 90-minute drive to see me play, instead of a four- or five-hour plane ride. It's a childhood dream, but not just for me. Especially for my dad, because his son will be playing for the Canadiens."

‪Merci Jonathan pour la journée avec HabsTV! ��‬ ‪Thanks @jodrouin27 for being HabsTV host for a day! #GoHabsGo‬ A post shared by Canadiens de Montréal (@canadiensmtl) on Jul 13, 2017 at 2:57pm PDT

The Habs' newcomer has a hard time hiding his excitement over getting the chance to play for the Montreal Canadiens. And while his new fans are also eager to see him hit the ice for the home team at the Bell Centre, his new coach and coworkers are equally pleased that they'll no longer have to worry about facing Drouin as an opponent. "I'm really happy to have him. We all know he's a good young player and a Montrealer, but what's even more important is that he's able to bring us a strong offensive game," indicated Habs bench boss, Claude Julien. "He's a good playmaker who's also able to score goals. He can play all three forward positions, which I think is very important."

It's a childhood dream, but not just for me. Especially for my dad, because his son will be playing for the Canadiens. Jonathan Drouin

Fresh off inking his own contract extension to spend at least a few more years in bleu-blanc-rouge, sharpshooter Alex Galchenyuk echoed his coach's enthusiasm about the acquisition. "When we added Drouin, I was very excited. I congratulated him right away. To add a player with his skill set to our team, me as player, I was really excited," shared Galchenyuk, who signed a three-year deal as a restricted free agent on July 5. "Having the chance to play with a player like that, it's always a plus." Ditto for fellow Quebec native, Phillip Danault, who had a chance to see Drouin's skillset in action early on, dating back to their days in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. "It was an excellent trade by Marc Bergevin. He's an energetic player, he's passionate about hockey and he'll bring a lot of excitement to Montreal," raved Danault. "I'm really happy to have him on board now. I'm sure he'll work hard and be very motivated for next season."

Danault was bang-on in his assessment given the time Drouin has been spending in the gym getting ready to make his Canadiens debut in the fall. The former Halifax Mooseheads star has set up shop in downtown Montreal, and has been spotted working out with his new captain, Max Pacioretty. Drouin and Pacioretty have been training partners since last year, and the pair decided to work out with the same group again this offseason - although they'll now be doing so in matching workout clothes. The Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts native considers himself lucky to count on the advice of Pacioretty, who will be entering his 10th campaign with Montreal.

"When you train with a guy you'll be spending the next season with, and maybe even playing on the same line, that ups your motivation a notch. We're similar in a lot of ways. It's good that I'll already know him going into training camp," Drouin explained of the veteran winger. "We're very motivated and we're taking things seriously. It's going to help us moving forward. "I'm sure there are things about Montreal that still surprise him even to this day, even if he's been here a few years. He's already been through a lot and he has a lot of experience. But I'm from Quebec, so I also know a bit about the market," continued Drouin, who also lived in Dollard-des-Ormeaux growing up. "I've seen how things work here. It's normal that there would be pressure, everyone knows it. It's part of life here, you can't change it. Max has given me tips on lots of little things - on nutrition, among others."

About to step into the NHL's most fervent market as a 22-year-old after getting his start in the Sunshine State, Drouin knows that hockey fever will only intensify as the 2017-18 season gets closer. He's embracing it all with open arms, looking to make good on sky-high expectations from fans, family and friends. Even before stepping inside the Bell Centre for a press conference where pulled on his Canadiens jersey for the first time, Drouin already understood what it means to play for the NHL's most storied franchise. The 5-foot-11, 188-pound forward has played under pressure throughout his hockey career. Far from shying away from the glare of the spotlight, Drouin is ready to step right into the mix and contribute from Day 1. "I've always been someone who's fueled by pressure. It was like that when I played in Halifax; we had a lot of pressure there," recalled Drouin, who won the Memorial Cup with the Mooseheads in 2013. "For sure, Junior is not even close to what it's like being on the Canadiens, but with the team we had at the time, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves.

"In Tampa, I learned a lot from being around guys like Ryan Callahan, Steven Stamkos, and Brian Boyle. I was surrounded by lots of good leaders who had spent many years in the NHL," he continued. "I wouldn't say that any one piece of advice in particular stood out, but it was all the little things I picked up on, especially in terms of setting up your routine. When you come from Junior to the pros, you can't be afraid of asking questions. You'll get some tips that can help improve your life."

I really can't wait for it to start. I'm counting down the days. It's a new start and a new step for me. Jonathan Drouin