Penguins prospect Sam Poulin enjoys a career season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Just visually, it was impressive.

And when the heights and weights were accounted for, it only amplified the display.

During the Pittsburgh Penguins’ regular-season finale, a 5-2 home win against the rival Washington Capitals on Thursday, Penguins forward Sam Poulin made an impact.

At 5 minutes, 49 seconds of the second period, Poulin (6-foot-2, 227 pounds) planted one of the biggest players in the NHL, Capitals defenseman Dylan McIlrath (6-foot-5, 240 pounds) into the left-wing boards of Washington’s zone, causing the elephantine blueliner to stumble a bit.

“He wasn’t really happy about it,” Poulin said with a slight grin. “But I was just playing my game and doing what I had to do.”

By most measures, Poulin has done quite well in his fourth professional season.

Primarily stationed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League this season, the 24-year-old set career highs at that level with 19 goals, 24 assists and 43 points in 57 games.

Pouly lights the lamp ‼️ pic.twitter.com/OSaUac7MWP

— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 22, 2025

Not bad for a player who had to clear waivers out of training camp to report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

“I try to focus on my process every single day,” Poulin said after Thursday’s victory. “And afterward, look back at my results and reassess my process relating with that. I think numbers are just after-effects of doing those good things on the ice. But, obviously, I’m really happy about the way I’ve been playing, especially the last couple of months.

“Our team has been doing really good, as well. Just really excited for playoffs that are coming up.”

Poulin largely has settled into a middle-six role on either wing with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who opened the Calder Cup Playoffs Wednesday with a 5-2 home loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in a best-of-three opening-round series. Beginning the contest on the left wing of the third line, Poulin recorded an assist.

Given Pittsburgh Penguins management’s emphasis on restocking the pool of future assets, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins entered the postseason with legitimate hopes of advancing past the first round for the first time since 2016.

As Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s fourth-leading scorer during the regular season, Poulin is a significant component of that optimism.

“We’re young, but I feel like we have everything it takes to win,” Poulin said. “Obviously, we have a wonderful group this year. It’s not every year that you get to go to the rink and have so much fun like that. We’ll try to maximize that opportunity that’s in front of us.”

The Penguins’ first-round draft pick in 2019 (No. 21 overall), Poulin has appeared in only 13 NHL games. That includes Thursday’s victory, which he participated in after being recalled earlier in the day.

While his overall development arc stalled out in 2022 when he took a multi-month hiatus to address his mental health, his progress in 2024-25 has sated management.

“Sam’s had a great year,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s played extremely well for (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). He continues to grow and develop his game. … Obviously, his size and his strength on the puck is something that we like. He’s good on the wall. The best aspect of his game is in the offensive zone underneath the hashmarks down low. He protects pucks well. He’s pretty good at the net front. He has a good stick.

“We’re, obviously, thrilled with his overall growth (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton).”

With the organization gradually turning to youth, Poulin would appear to be a candidate to finally break through to the NHL level on a full-time basis next season, presumably in a bottom-six capacity.

For his part, Poulin’s vision is affixed to more immediate concerns.

“That’s too far ahead,” Poulin said. “I haven’t really thought about that. There’s still a lot of time before (training camp). We have big things coming up the next couple of weeks. That’s where my focus is at right now.”