Focus is on defense for talented 2020 third-round draft choice
Jeremie Poirier’s offensive skills will go a long ways to helping him make the jump to the NHL.
However, as much as Poirier’s scoring abilities are his calling card, the key to him staying with the Calgary Flames is dependant on preventing opponents from lighting the lamp.
“I think he really progressed this year to playing a well-rounded game,” said Brad Pascall, the Flames assistant GM who oversees the AHL Calgary Wranglers. “He was a player who played in all situations for us. I don’t think he’ll be a full-time PK guy in the NHL, but he’s a guy smart enough to know where to position himself, can play tons of five-on-five minutes and lead a power play.”
Poirier’s AHL campaign last season was definitely a success. The defenseman who turned 21 last month, was named to the all-rookie team after collecting nine goals and 41 points in 69 regular-season games, plus another two goals and eight points in nine playoff outings.
“I didn’t really set any goals or expectations for myself. I just wanted to go out there and have some fun. That’s why I play the game, I like it and have fun,” said Poirier, who the Flames selected in the third-round, 72nd overall, in the 2020 draft.
“I was pretty happy with what I did. I’m pretty confident with what I can do on the ice, so when I step out there, things fall into place.”
The Flames currently have eight defensemen on one-way contracts — a situation which could change at any minute if any of the blueliners due to become unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2024 are traded (such as Noah Hanifin) — so right now there is no race to force Poirier into the big league roster, and that’s a good thing.
Poirier impressively put up those numbers despite requiring knee surgery once the campaign ended. He did not take part in last week’s summer prospects camp after the minor procedure.
“There’s not really a timeline exactly, we’ll see what the pain management is,” Poirier said. “There’s no point in rushing anything. If you’re injured, you’ve got to take the time to heal your injury and come back 100 percent so you can do things and perform at the highest capacity.”
That said, he’s optimistic to be healthy enough to push for a NHL roster spot when camp opens in September.
It is also when Poirier hopes to show how far he’s advanced in becoming a more complete player.
“I think I did a decent job of focusing on that and improving that part of my game,” he said of his defensive efforts last season.
“I’ve always been a pretty offensive guy, so even if sacrifice a bit of my offense to dial it up on the defensive side, it’s about making good decisions. When I get the puck on my stick, when I skate up the ice or scan the ice, I’ll see some things and the offense will create itself. I don’t worry too much about the offense, I just go out there and see what happens on that side of the puck, but when I’m on the defensive side without the puck, it’s about being intense and being firm and doing what I need to do.”