A few years ago, Derrick Pouliot was basically a regular on Vancouver’s defense corps but his stock has slipped since then. Now, the 27-year-old has opted to settle for a minor league contract as Henderson, Vegas’ affiliate, announced that they’ve inked him to a one-year deal.
It’s a bit surprising that Pouliot had to settle for a contract that doesn’t have an NHL portion as he was able to secure two-way pacts the last two seasons with a $425K guarantee. While financial terms of this contract weren’t disclosed, AHL-only contracts don’t typically approach that high of a price tag.
Pouliot spent last season in Philadelphia’s system, playing in 25 games with AHL Lehigh Valley where he recorded three goals and 11 assists, decent numbers for a defenseman. That helped earn him four separate recalls to the taxi squad during the year but it didn’t materialize into any NHL action, nor did it evidently help him to earn a two-way deal this time around in free agency.
Pouliot, the eighth-overall pick in 2012 to Pittsburgh, has played in 202 career NHL contests between the Penguins, Canucks, and Blues, notching eight goals and 40 assists. But if he wants to make it back to the top level, he’ll have to have his contract first converted to an NHL deal. Considering Vegas already has 47 out of 50 contracts on the books with Dylan Coghlan needing a deal as a restricted free agent, they will likely need to move out a player or two first to give themselves some wiggle room on that front. Accordingly, Pouliot’s stay with the Silver Knights may be a long one while Vegas adds a capable veteran defender on a no-risk contract.
“Basically a regular on Vancouver’s defensive corp” is not exactly high praise. And I say this as a fan of the team. The best thing Pouliot has going for himself was his draft selection.
I was there when Pouliot was drafted. We knew Jordan Staal was getting traded but this was before insiders broke every piece of news on Twitter and ruined everything. Gary announced the trade right before the pick. All of a sudden, we had a top ten pick out of nowhere and Ray is walking up to the stage. Everyone looks at their phones, not really knowing the players expected to go in this range since we were picking at #22. Then we all saw it. There it was…FILIP FORSBERG. Goal scoring power forward. A perfect fit with our other core players. Amazing. Ray had turned Staal into Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin and Filip Forsberg. Incredible work.
Then he said “The Pittsburgh Penguins are proud to select…defenseman…”
Wait, we have a million young D men in the system already, why are we passing on Forsberg for another one? Oh well, at least Jacob Trouba fills the right shot need and is physical…
“…Derrick Pouliot.”
The excitement emptied out of the building like a balloon being popped.
This is why I laugh at the “are you employed by the team?” “armchair GM” “I’m sure the pros know more…” people. Thousands of fans knew better than the Pens that day and we have the receipts.
you also think Tanev is elite
Yes, he is. He sets the tone on almost every shift. And some people think a dime a dozen fourth liner will replace him for basically the same money.
139 hits vs 44 hits last season, but sure, they are the same player who bring the same things to the game. Cuz they play on the same line or something.
Nope 139 hits in no way makes anyone elite. Nobody is buying it bruh.
It’s the total package that makes him elite. Still waiting for someone to name the player that brings all of the skills Tanev does to the table at the level that he does. Have yet to receive one name.
The 139 hits vs. 44 hits comment was to the assertion that McGinn is “Tanev for less money.”
One of them brings elite speed and elite physicality to the game and the other is just a guy.
Not everyone is capable of understanding these distinctions, so they look at a depth chart and then open their mouths and remove all doubt.
Josh archibald is a good defensive player, he even has hands, and he had 192(!) hits in a shortened season. By your definition he’s elite. Oh and he was even drafted! There’s a reason guys like Tanev don’t go in the first round (or get drafted at all). Teams don’t salivate over good 3rd liners at the draft. They draft the potentially elite, first line guys in the first round. The guys that at the end of the day actually win the games. Nashville is a great case. A team full of good third liners and great defense. How’s that working? Quick though experiment: would you put Sid the Kid on the third line? He’s a good defensive player, he will hit and he will even fight. My guess is no you wouldn’t. Why wouldn’t you? Because he’s elite. Your elite players play first line. Tanev has never hit 30 points. You can be the best hitter in the world but if you can’t crack 30 points you’re not an elite player. Nobody in the world except you thinks that!
All I know is that if tanev is elite
Then brock mcginn better get ready to be enshrined into the hockey HoF