Jonathan Drouin sat up in bed with every moment from the previous NHL game seared into his mind.

Night after night, he couldn’t sleep.

A few years ago, before signing with the Avalanche, Drouin’s mental health reached a tipping point in Montreal. He took a leave of absence from the Canadiens — missing half the season and playoffs — to address what he later described as insomnia resulting from anxiety.

“My brain rarely stops rocking,” Drouin told The Denver Gazette. “That was one of the biggest issues for me. I would come home and replay that whole game I just played.”

He found a happier place. In August 2021, during a sit-down interview with TSN, Drouin spoke candidly about his struggles and how seeking help changed his life. What Drouin did not expect? An outpouring of support from people around the NHL.

“I definitely had people that surprised me, texted me or called me,” Drouin said. “They maybe had some experience like that in their time or needed to talk about it. It’s cool to see that inspires some people. Or at least people can feel more free to talk to someone, or to get out of their little bubble.”

Drouin is all smiles lately. His dressing room stall at the practice facility is beside Nathan MacKinnon, his former junior hockey teammate. Drouin turned down more lucrative offers in free agency to possibly join MacKinnon on Colorado’s top line this season. But that’s not the only source of his smile.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on other than hockey in life,” Drouin said. “You’ve got to find the right balance.”

Fatherhood changed everything for Drouin. His son turns 2 in February. Drouin said being a parent has “been a lot of fun” while embracing the little moments — like walks to the park. Drouin, 28, lights up when talking about him.

“Ever since I got my son, that helped a lot. It gave me perspective on life,” Drouin said. “You step away from the game for a little bit.”

Mental health isn’t a destination. It’s an active journey.

Drouin said tips from sports psychologists and “people I can lean on and people I can call if something happens” allows him to keep a clear head. He’s happy to report that his anxiety and sleep issues are now “very rare.” That hasn’t changed since arriving in Denver over the summer.

“It’s been great,” Drouin said. “When you’re (in Montreal) for six years, you think the move is going to be complicated. But it’s been very easy. The staff and the people here have made everything way easier. And the players are making me feel comfortable right away. I tried showing up like three weeks early so I could get the altitude and the house down and all that stuff.

“Denver helps. It’s sunny every day.”