Penguins A to Z: Opportunity still exists for Sam Poulin

With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 58 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization.

Starting with Noel Acciari and going on through to Philip Tomasino (regrettably, there is no Z on the payroll), every player will be profiled in alphabetical order.

This series is scheduled to be published Mondays through Saturdays leading up until June 25, four days before the start of the NHL Draft. In the event of a transaction, that schedule will be altered as necessary.

(Note: All contract information courtesy of Puckpedia.)

Sam Poulin

Position: Right winger

Shoots: Left

Age: 24

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 227 pounds

2024-25 NHL statistics: Seven games, one point (zero goals, one assist), 10:04 of average ice time per contest

2024-25 AHL regular season statistics: 57 games, 43 points (19 goals, 24 assists)

2024-25 AHL postseason statistics: Two games, one point (zero goals, one assist)

Contract: In the first year of a two-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2026.

Acquired: First-round draft pick (No. 21 overall), June 21, 2019

This season: Things started poorly for Poulin in 2024-25 when he was waived Oct. 4. Clearing the next day, he was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Poulin shook off any doldrums he may have experienced from going through waivers and got off to a fast start with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Opening the season on the right wing of the top line, he had points in five of his first six games (two goals, five assists).

Bemstrom finds Poulin in the slot! pic.twitter.com/kTEeAexHIA

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) October 13, 2024

That opening surge helped lead to a recall to the NHL roster Nov. 11. Primarily stationed on the right of the third line, Poulin appeared in six games and recorded an assist before being sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Nov. 25.

Aside from a four-game absence due to an undisclosed injury in late December, Poulin was a steady presence in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lineup for the remainder of the season. Starting nearly the same amount of games on the left wing (29) as the right wing (28), Poulin set career highs in all base offensive categories.

The high point of his season came during an 8-3 home win against the Belleville Senators when he recorded a natural hat trick as well as two assists.

THROW THE HATS ???????????? pic.twitter.com/kOQtl9NeF6

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 9, 2025

After being recalled again to play in the NHL club’s regular season finale April 18, Poulin returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and skated in each of that club’s two postseason games, contributing an assist.

The future: Just given the nature of being a first-round draft pick, Poulin is always going to have a certain set of expectations thrust upon him. And it’s fair to suggest he has failed to meet those hopes nearly six years after being drafted, even when accounting for the lengthy leave of absence he took in 2022-23 to address his mental health.

But that doesn’t mean the possibility of being part of the rebuilding Penguins has evaporated for Poulin.

He is coming off a career year at the AHL level and the NHL club is clearly turning to younger options all over the lineup, especially among the bottom-six forwards where Poulin’s blend of skill, versatility and size — he is the heaviest player in the organization — lends itself to duties on the third or fourth line.

The opportunity to be part of the future still exists for Poulin.