The Philadelphia Flyers have added some defensive depth to their system, announcing (Twitter link) the signing of defenseman Derrick Pouliot to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K.
Pouliot, 26, is a cautionary draft story for those who believe their top-10 picks are destined to be impact players at the NHL level. In 2012, after Alex Galchenyuk was taken third overall by the Montreal Canadiens, seven consecutive defensemen were taken. All of them came with huge potential and huge expectations, and many—Morgan Rielly, Hampus Lindholm, Matt Dumba, and Jacob Trouba specifically—lived up to them. Pouliot, unfortunately, did not.
Picked eighth overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Pouliot was a high-flying defenseman from the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. He had just scored 76 points in 94 games, won gold with the Canadian U18 team and was named to the CHL Top Prospects Game. He would make it to the Memorial Cup the following season and win the CHL Defenseman of the Year award in 2013-14. Things would take a sharp downturn when he hit the professional ranks however, with Pouliot struggling as a young player for the Penguins.
While he did rebound some with the Vancouver Canucks, Pouliot still has just 202 NHL games under his belt and has registered just 48 points. He spent last season in the minor leagues with the San Antonio Rampage, playing just two games for the St. Louis Blues.
Still, as a depth defenseman for the Flyers, you could have done worse. The team won’t be expecting him to log regular minutes on the NHL blue line, instead only recalling him when there is an injury. He can help the Lehigh Valley Phantoms whenever the AHL season gets underway, or be another layer of NHL experience behind their regular lineup.
ah, the breakthrough move we needed. smh.
I was at the 2012 Draft in Pittsburgh. That was the draft where Ray Shero traded Jordan Staal to Jim Rutherford and the Canes for Dumoulin, Brandon Sutter and the #8 pick in that draft.
The trade was announced right before the pick. Everyone in the arena started looking up the early prospects on their phone (we didn’t pick until #22) while Shero walked to the podium.
Everyone was like “we’re getting Filip Forsberg!!!”
Then Shero drafted Derrick Freaking Pouliot. The collective “ugh” was palpable.
Shero thought he was getting the next coming of Letang. Maatta at 22 was/is a way better Dman. Can you imagine Forsberg and Guentzel flanking Sid?
the flyers could have done better in my opinion. I guess they could do also do a lot worse. I mean we already lost about four players and so far as we brought in was one guy who’s going to be down in Lehigh valley and called up here and there it’s doesn’t seem like a good start for Chuck Fletcher and company
Depth is always a good thing, especially defenceman. Patrick is a what if, Lindbolm too to some degree…they are deep enough all around that there isn’t a need to overpay in free agency. Only real need,IMO, a veteran dman to put with Provy. If Petro signs with Vegas, a guy like Alex Martinez would be a nice addition
A depth guy/Phantoms…Friedman and/or Morin(if healthy) may come up and they’ll need replacements.