Learning from Jake Oettinger and Scott Wedgewood has been beneficial for Remi Poirier.
DALLAS - When general manager Jim Nill was asked a couple of weeks ago about the Stars’ organizational depth at the goaltending position beyond Jake Oettinger and Scott Wedgewood, Remi Poirier’s name immediately came to mind.
Nill had just watched Poirier pick up a couple of wins at the NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City, MI, so he had a fresh perspective on the young netminder, who was a sixth-round selection (185th overall) in 2020.
“Remi’s taken another step. It’s been great to see, so we know we’ve got another option there now,” said Nill, during his season-opening media availability on Sept. 20 at Comerica Center in Frisco. “His plan is to go down to the American League, grab that starting job, and get in 40, 50, 60 games.”
Poirier will, of course, have competition to secure the starting role in Cedar Park given Matt Murray’s notable showing in the AHL ranks last year.
Murray also made his NHL debut and started three games for Dallas in March.
“Matt Murray’s come up and shown that he can do it. Last year, he went through it. You’re in college hockey, then you turn pro, and all of sudden you get called up. It’s a learning experience. He’s gone through that now,” said Nill, who loaned Murray, among others, to the Stars’ AHL affiliate on Monday. “We know we’ll have two guys that are there to help out when needed, and that’s all you can do. You’ve got to let the chips fall and see where this all goes.”
For now, Poirier continues to focus squarely on “soaking in everything” at training camp.
That includes internalizing valuable lessons from the likes of Oettinger and Wedgewood that will serve him well in the future.
“It’s more the mental side of the game that I’m learning from them. They handle everything pretty relaxed. If you look at Otter, he’s always very calm. It’s the same thing with Wedgie,” explained Poirier. “It's going great right now. I’m just staying at the same pace and same level emotionally. That’s really the main thing that I’m getting from them.”
Maintaining that demeanor - given the inevitable up-and-down nature of any campaign - will be invaluable in the 21-year-old Farnham, QC native’s overall development.
Entering his sophomore season in the pros, he understands exactly what he needs to do.
“I just need to establish myself in the AHL. If you have a good season, things can go fast, but I’m just going day-by-day. That’s what I learned most from last season,” said Poirier. “I had some expectations, but it isn’t about that going into my second year. It’s about trying my best every time I step on the ice. That’s what I want to do, go day-by-day and hopefully get called up eventually. The main thing, though, is just doing well in the American League.”
One look at Poirier’s numbers and you can see why Nill is particularly high on the QMJHL product, who played four seasons with the Gatineau Olympiques.
His sparkling 19-2-2 record, 2.07 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in 23 appearances with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads certainly caught the attention of the Stars’ brass, and his 9-5-2 record in 16 appearances with the Texas Stars was notable as well.
Being on the receiving end of shots from snipers like Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Joe Pavelski at camp these days can only help his cause statistics-wise.
“It’s a team contending for the Cup, so every player is really good. When you want to be the best, you want to play with the best, so it’s nice to play with guys of that caliber. You can see their hockey IQ. It’s the same thing with goalies. When I’m out there, I try to be better than the others. I’m always pushing myself,” mentioned Poirier. “I know that one day I want to be at the same level as Otter, so I try to push myself to be better every day."
Poirier’s support system has been a source of strength in his quest to make his NHL dreams come true, too.
He knows that he can always count on his parents for encouragement.
“My dad pushed me a lot in youth hockey. He pushed me to be better and to be a better person. My mom and dad are a little bit like psychologists. If I need some comfort, I go to my mom. If I want something tough or I want someone to yell at me, I go to my dad,” shared Poirier with a laugh. “They’re huge for me. They’re following every step. My mom is just the biggest fan. I’m a big family guy, so I can’t wait for them to watch me play in Texas one day.”
If all goes well, that should happen in the near future.
In the meantime, however, Poirier is just appreciating his tenure with the big club.
“It’s a little bit of a taste that we have right now. When you get a taste of it, you want the whole thing. I know I’m really patient. It’s going to come someday. I’ll work my hardest for it,” concluded Poirier. “I'm just really appreciating my time over here, and I hope I’ll be in the locker room one day.”