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Photo by John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette

“I think for me it was just my overall experience and how well it went in my short time being in Montreal,” Thompson said. “I think also having the familiarity with the guys, coaching staff and also knowing where the team is headed. I think the direction the team is headed, it’s one of those things I was excited to come back and I knew that we were going to have a good team that’s hopefully going to make the playoffs next year.”

Thompson has cherished every moment in the NHL since becoming sober on Oct. 10, 2016, a day that changed his life. He was playing for the Anaheim Ducks at the time and things had been spiralling out of control.

“It’s one of those things if I didn’t change my life and didn’t change my lifestyle, I wouldn’t be playing and I wouldn’t be where I’m at right now,” he said. “I don’t know if I want to get into a low point … there were a lot of low points for me. I had a couple of surgeries, a couple of tough ones. I just wasn’t in a good place. I was doing bad things and abusing myself with substance. It was one of those things where you have to make changes because things are going to keep going downhill. I had to take a look in the mirror because I didn’t like who I saw in the mirror anymore. I had to make a change because either I was going to die or I was going to end up in jail. It was one of those things. It was alcohol among other things. But when it comes down to it, it was definitely the alcohol.”