Penguins A to Z: Sam Poulin is better prepared after his first pro season
With the Penguins’ 2021-22 season coming to a quick ending in the first round of the playoffs, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 54 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until the 2022-23 season — with the organization, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to top-six winger Jason Zucker.
Sam Poulin
Position: Right winger
Shoots: Left
Age: 21
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 213 pounds
2021-22 AHL statistics: 72 games, 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists)
Contract: In the first year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $863,333. Pending restricted free agent in the 2024 offseason.
(Note: According to Cap Friendly, Poulin remains exempt from waivers in the event of a recall or assignment involving Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.)
Acquired: First-round draft pick (No. 21 overall), June 21, 2019
Last season: As Sam Poulin entered his first professional season, there was plenty of eagerness to see what he could do as an NHLer. After all, as a one-time first-round pick, the promise he offers will always entice.
But after a ho-hum preseason in which Poulin had no points in three games, he was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League in order to get acclimated to the professional game.
That acclimation included a bit of tough love.
After putting up only seven points (four goals, three assists) in his first 22 games of the season (0.31 points per game), Poulin was a healthy scratch Jan. 8.
After that scratch, Poulin’s output saw a burst as he posted 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 50 games, equating to 0.60 points per game. The highlight of his season came in the form of his first professional hat trick during a 6-2 home win against the Laval Rocket on March 12.
During the postseason, Poulin, who was deployed at center more often as the season wore on, appeared in six games and posted four points (three goals, one assist).
The future: During his season-ending media availability, Penguins general manager Ron Hextall labeled Poulin, by name, as a player who could realistically challenge for a roster spot going into the 2022-23 season.
Given that the Penguins are facing a potential salary cap crunch this offseason, Poulin, who could fairly be labeled as the organization’s top prospect, would be a cheaper option to fill out the bottom-six forwards and provide a considerable boost of skill to that group.
Blessed with a bit of size, he is a power forward who has a nice bundle of skills. He just needs to gain a better grasp of the details in the professional game, and he made considerable strides in that area as the season wore on.
Perhaps the biggest question about Poulin is if he is a center or right winger. Drafted as a right winger, Poulin began experimenting at center during his final season at the junior level in 2020-21. This past season, he found his greatest success as a center while playing with Alex Nylander on his left wing. That said, the quickest route to the NHL would be as a right winger given the depth the Penguins typically have at center.
He wasn’t ready to be an NHLer last season. And it would be a stretch to say he’s guaranteed a roster spot going into next season. But he is much better prepared after a season of growth.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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