Penguins Prospect Deserves Bigger Opportunity
The ceiling is rising for one of the Pittsburgh Penguins top prospects who should find his way back to the NHL.
PITTSBURGH – Ever since he was drafted in the first round in 2019, Sam Poulin has been one of the top prospects in the Pittsburgh Penguins system. Now, as a 23-year-old, it’s almost time Poulins stops being referred to as a ‘prospect’ and makes that graduation back to the NHL.
After a tough year in 2022-23, Poulin has bounced back in a huge way this year as a member of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Despite a lengthy injury, Poulin has played in 21 games with 13 total points (9G-4A). He recently saw a four-game goal streak come to an end, but he’s making a case for himself to find his way back in the NHL lineup.
Not only is Poulin earning a role with the Penguins again, but a new opportunity might be opening for him.
During his first stint in the NHL, Poulin played in three games and was usually used in the bottom six. Right now, the Penguins have forward Collin White playing on the second line with Evgeni Malkin. If Poulin gets another nod to the big club, he could easily find himself among the top six forwards, much like White.
The Penguins have struggled to find a consistent set of forwards to play with Malkin, but Poulin could fit nicely on the second line. A second line spot would allow Poulin to play more in his comfort zone and could be a much more successful version of what Valtteri Puustinen brought when he entered the NHL lineup.
Poulin’s trek to becoming an NHL regular has been slow, but part of that is due to the Penguins wanting to see him grow his defensive game. They believe that part of his skillset has come a long way, giving him an extra dimension, which could be missing from the Penguins top six.
Puustinen proved that the young Penguins have the ability to produce at the NHL level, and White shows that the lineup is pretty fluid at the moment. Nothing is set in stone and the Penguins are still looking for groups that give them the best chance to win.
When given his next opportunity, Poulin will bring both defense and offense to the table. His ceiling for success seems to be getting bigger with each game in the AHL. When his number is called upon again, and the Penguins hope it’s soon, the opportunities for Poulin will exceed just a spot in the bottom six.
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins
