Penguins forward prospect Sam Poulin will rejoin the organization after a three-plus month leave of absence to address his mental health.
Taking leave and returning to his native Quebec on Dec. 7 for what was then termed as a personal matter, Poulin announced his decision to return to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League via a posting on Instagram on Wednesday.
Poulin wrote:
“Three months ago, I made a decision to take a break from hockey, and return home to take care of myself and my mental health. After seeking the help I needed, I am now ready to return to Wilkes-Barre to rejoin my team.
“I want to thank everyone who helped get me through this difficult time, including my family, my girlfriend, my friends, my medical team, the entire Pittsburgh Penguins organization, my teammates, and the fans, who showed unconditional love and support.
“I strongly encourage everyone to speak openly about mental health because it affects us all. For those who may be struggling, please know you are not alone.”
The Penguins’ first-round pick (No. 19 overall) in 2019, Poulin, 22, is one of the organization’s top prospects in a pool of limited candidates.
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This season, Poulin made his NHL debut in late October and early November, appearing in three games and recording one assist while logging 9 minutes, 58 seconds of ice time per contest.
With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, Poulin has played in 13 AHL games and has four goals.
The left-handed Poulin (6-foot-2, 213 pounds) is in the second year of a three-year entry-level contract that carries a salary cap hit of $863,333.
