There was a before and after to Sam Poulin’s first professional season in 2021-22.

Jan. 8.

As a rookie with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Poulin labored through a difficult first portion of the season. In his first 22 games, Poulin, a first-round pick (No. 21 overall) in 2019, could only muster seven points (four goals, three assists).

That led to a healthy scratch Jan. 8.

“The game that I got scratched I think was a wake-up call for me,” Poulin said recently during the team’s rookie camp in Cranberry. “That was the first time that had ever happened to me. My goal was to stay in the lineup all year long after that. I wouldn’t say I was playing more consciously, but I was more aware of my decisions, the plays that I was making. It’s just a matter of getting that confidence back. From that point on after that, I just played with much more poise, more confidence.”

Poulin’s production validated that assessment as he enjoyed a burst when he posted 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in his final 50 games of the season.

During the postseason, Poulin played in six games and had four points (three goals, one assist).

“When you look at his progression throughout the year, it was a tough start,” Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins coach J.D. Forrest said. “That’s a giant jump, and I think a lot of guys aren’t expecting that jump. They think it might be a little bit easier. One thing about Sam is he’s a relentless worker. He wasn’t satisfied with that first portion of the season. He took that message to heart and changed a few things and stuck with it. He changed his game a bit, started putting himself in situations to be really successful and he flourished.

“He’s been great at center for us. Those tough breaks that you don’t have to go through at an earlier age, when it hits you later, it’s hard and maybe you don’t know how to deal with it. But he did a tremendous job.

“Looking at his progression, jeez. If he can continue that, he’s going to be a scary-good player.”

Where that fight might unfold remains to be seen.

Drafted as a right winger, Poulin began to experiment at center during his final season at the junior level (2020-21) and was deployed in the middle quite a bit in his first professional season.

“Playing center, it’s a little bit more responsibility,” Poulin said. “Playing wing, I wouldn’t say easier but less stress and less responsibility. It’s just a matter of making the little plays right. I don’t think it would be an issue to go back to wing.”

Said Forrest: “He had more success with us at the center position. Definitely, he’s got the ability to do both. For us, that’s where we needed him to play. That’s where he flourished. That’s where he touched the puck the most. He gets dialed in right off of faceoffs. He started to get really good right off draws. At the end of the year, we were putting him in big situations to win them for us. Any piece of the game that you give him, he’s going to try to dig down deep and try to become as good as he possibly can.

“Whatever you want to say about Sam, he will not get outworked, whether that means a battle in the corner or a faceoff. If you give him little pieces of the game, he’s going to find a way to be really good and get better every day. That center position for us, that’s where we saw him at his best.”

Poulin doesn’t seem overly fastidious over where he is deployed. The 21-year-old just wants it to be at the NHL level.

“I’m a pretty versatile player, so no matter where they want me to play, I think I could fit in,” said Poulin, a left-handed shot. “If they want me to play center, I know I can do it. If they want me to play wing, I know I can do it as well. After that, if they want me to play in the top six (forwards), I know I can do it. Bottom six, I feel pretty confident playing more of a physical game. If there’s an opportunity, I’ll do everything I can get my spot for the team.

“You’ve just got to be ready for any opportunity. If it’s not center, well I’ll be able to play wing. If it’s the only spot available, I’ll be more than happy to fit into that role.”

Note: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Brooklyn Kalmikov, who is signed to an American Hockey League contract, was added to the NHL training camp roster.

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