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Penguins' First Round Pick's Time in the Organization May Be Over Due to Waivers
Photo credit: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Samuel Poulin was once one of the Pittsburgh Penguins' top prospects, but now it appears that his time with the organization could end prematurely via waivers later this year.
Back in 2019, the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Samuel Poulin in the first round, 21st overall. Back then, they hoped that Poulin could one day become a linemate of Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin in the Penguins' top six. However, he has struggled to break into the NHL and has found himself as one of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' top players in the AHL.
This past season, he scored 19 goals and 43 points in 57 games, which put him in the top five in scoring for the AHL Penguins. He also got into seven games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he scored a single assist.
Recently, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review identified Poulin as a player who still could have a future with the Pittsburgh Penguins. While Poulin was waived early last year, and fortunately for the Penguins, he cleared waivers, where he found success in the AHL.
Seth Rorabaugh writes the following about Poulin's future with the Penguins:
"He is coming off a career year at the AHL level and the NHL club is clearly turning to younger options all over the lineup, especially among the bottom-six forwards where Poulin's blend of skill, versatility and size - he is the heaviest player in the organization - lends itself to duties on the third or fourth line." - Seth Rorabaugh, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
However, Pro Hockey Rumors identified the possibility that Poulin may not clear waivers once again due to his strong showing in the AHL last year.
"If not, he'll have to pass through waivers again and could be a candidate to be claimed with his stronger showing in the minors this year." - Brian La Rose, Pro Hockey Rumors
Ideally, for the Penguins, Poulin establishes himself as a player for them right out of training camp, so they do not need to place him on waivers at all and have him succeed in a bottom-six role this upcoming season.
We now await the coming NHL season to see what Kyle Dubas does with Poulin and if he is apart of the Penguins impending rebuild.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 14 | 132 ANSWERS Penguins' First Round Pick's Time in the Organization May Be Over Due to Waivers Will the Pittsburgh Penguins lose Samuel Poulin to waivers this fall? | ||
| Yes | 97 | 73.5 % |
| No | 35 | 26.5 % |
| List of polls | ||