The Islanders’ French connections did their magic in convincing Jonathan Drouin to sign.

Drouin, a native of Ste-Agathe, Quebec, said Thursday that he spoke with former Islanders Anthony Beauvillier and Derick Brassard before inking his two-year, $8 million deal with the club in free agency , and that being able to converse with general manager Mathieu Darche in French didn’t hurt, either.

“Just exciting,” Drouin said after finishing his first practice as an Islander. “[Darche is] new here, so he’s figuring out stuff as he goes as well. The way he sees the team, the way he sees the future as well. Exciting for us, even though I’m not 25, 24 [years old] anymore, it’s exciting to see what he brings.”

Drouin began training camp Thursday on the top line with Bo Horvat and Maxim Shabanov,

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