Is it finally time for the Penguins’ 2019 first-round pick to get an extended shot at the NHL?
After injuries limited Poulin’s availability as a call-up last season, is it finally time for the Penguins’ 2019 first-round pick to get a shot at the NHL?
Graduates and departed players from last year’s list
The best of the rest
#25: Raivis Ansons
#24: Kirill Tankov
#23: Isaac Belliveau
#22: Taylor Gauthier
#21: Chase Pietila
#20: Emil Jarventie
#19: Kalle Kangas
#18: Joona Vaisanen
#17: Filip Kral
#16: Mac Swanson
#15: Jonathan Gruden
#14: Cruz Lucius
#13: Emil Pieniniemi
#12: John Ludvig
#11: Mikhail Ilyin
#10: Harrison Brunicke
#9 Tristan Broz
#9: Sam Poulin, F
2023 Ranking: #8
Age: 23 (February 25, 2001)
Acquired Via: 2019 NHL Draft (Round 1, Pick 21)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 208 pounds
Since being selected by the Penguins with the No. 21 pick of the 2019 draft, Poulin has yet to get an extended look at the NHL roster.
After taking a four-month leave of absence to focus on his mental health during the 2022-23 season, Poulin returned to spend most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins.
He recorded 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points, largely as a top-six forward, in 41 AHL games.
The Penguins might have turned to Poulin more when their forward depth was hurt by injury mid-season had the AHL forward not been sidelined himself. Injuries kept Poulin from the ice for most of November and February, limiting his availability as a call-up.
When healthy, however, Poulin was effective for the WBS Pens. He recorded 10 goals and six assists for 16 points over 21 games between Dec. 16 and Feb. 3, including a two-goal Gordie Howe hat trick over Lehigh Valley on Jan. 26.
Sam Poulin did it all on Friday night, recording two goals (including the game-winner), adding an assist and throwing punches with Garrett Wilson, as the #WBSPens defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 4-3, at the PPL Center.
Postgame Highlights are courtesy of the @PALottery. pic.twitter.com/d2oUume0sY
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 27, 2024
Poulin finally made it to Pittsburgh for three games at the tail end of the 2023-24 season, where he did not record any hits and put two shots on net while averaging fewer than eight minutes per game.
Poulin: “I’m just so excited to be here. It feels so good. I’ve come a long way to get here… In the last year, I kinda learned who I was as a person, so I’ll just bring what I usually bring. The goal is to win. My goal is to help the team win.” pic.twitter.com/32zZgLZMj0
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 26, 2024
Poulin said in March he has “come a long way” since his mental health break last season, per team reporter Michelle Crechiolo:
“I think I’ve come a long way since last year and did a lot of work on myself to get to this point and be in this position right now and this shape, too.”
“For a long time, I didn’t really enjoy playing hockey this much. It just feels good to come to the rink and have a blast every day and be with the boys.”
Sidney Crosby also weighed in on Poulin’s return in March, per Crechiolo:
“Just that he’s playing and enjoying it, back to doing what he loves, I think that’s the most important thing – and the fact that he’s been called up is just a product of that. I think the main thing is just that he’s happy, and it seems like that’s the case.”
Kyle Dubas and the Penguins re-signed Poulin to a two-year deal in April that will require the forward to clear waivers if he is assigned to the AHL. That might indicate the franchise plans to give the former first-round pick a real shot at the NHL this season.
Poulin has played at left wing, right wing and center during his time in the AHL and NHL. That flexibility, as well as his ability to use his size to create traffic in front of the net, could help him fight for a roster spot out of training camp and potentially get his first extended look at the NHL next season.