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LD Derrick Pouliot (2012, 8th overall, Pittsburgh)

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Thoughts on Pouliot's WJC play? Has appeared fairly solid to me.

Potential there for an elite offensive D-man, or just above average?
 
He has been silky smooth with the puck and playing huge minutes for the Canadian team in all situations. The only complaint is that he is taking too many penalties. I think he is playing a bit over his head defensively, causing the penalties. At this point he looks like he will be just good enough defensively not be a liability, and has huge offensive upside.
 
Looking like a bonified number one defensemen out there. Playing extremely smart, calm, and in all situations. Best Pens prospect in awhile IMO.
 
Griffin Reinhart has looked really good as well but there's no denying that Pouliot has basically been Canada's best player at the tournament, definitely high level decision making, real workhorse/tireless, underrated offense, he's the total package. The Pen's are so set at Defense for the next few years.
 
RickyR said:
Pouliot up to 42 points now in 35 games, WHL. Looked great at the WJC... I thought he looked awesome there, and seems to be an exciting prospect.

Also this week's WHL player of the week:
http://www.hockeyfights.com/news/194316
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I don't think there's ever been any doubt about his offensive upside. I'm more curious from the regular WHL watchers how his overall game looks, particularly his defensive zone game.
 
Reel2Reel said:
Will Pouliot get a shot in Pittsburgh next season?
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I think he needs at least 1 year in the AHL to get used to the Pro game, playing against bigger players, playing the Pens system, and continuing to get stronger physically. And the good new is that the AHL Pens are going to be a very strong team next year, and they have arguably the best developmental coaches on the continent, so it will be a great environment for him to develop.
 
jmelm said:
I think he needs at least 1 year in the AHL to get used to the Pro game, playing against bigger players, playing the Pens system, and continuing to get stronger physically. And the good new is that the AHL Pens are going to be a very strong team next year, and they have arguably the best developmental coaches on the continent, so it will be a great environment for him to develop.
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Are we? I mean, the D will be strong but not sure about the forwards.
 
Shrimper said:
Are we? I mean, the D will be strong but not sure about the forwards.
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Pens have never really had a hard time attracting big-time FAs to their AHL team, probably because most of them know if they're talented they'll have a pretty great shot of standing out and getting called up, as opposed to signing with an organization with a lot of forward depth.
 
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I wouldn't be surprised if Pouliot is good enough to makes the NHL team, but he won't due to a numbers game. Whether or not he makes the team depends on many things (Letang's health, Niskanen and Orpik re-signing or not, where Despres, Dumoulin and Samuelsson are at, ect). For him to make the team, neither Orpik nor Niskanen can be retained and Despres would have to be traded (Pouliot won't beat out Despres for a roster spot). I think Orpik will take a big payday from a dumb team and Niskanen to price himself out of Pittsburgh, so I'm expecting the D pairs next year to be:

Scuderi-Letang
Maatta-Martin
Despres-Bortuzzo

If Letang gets injured, I'd suspect that Pouliot would be the first call up. Otherwise, I'd say Dumoulin or Samuelsson would be called up first.
 
This may be slightly off topic but how do you guys think Derrick Pouliot and Brandon Gormley compare?

I think they're similar players in terms of what kind of a role they fill, I realize Gormley has an inch or so on Pouliot but I think for the intent and purpose of discussion, they are quite similar.

Gormley played out his final year of junior and competed for Team Canada at the WJC much like Gormley did. Then turned pro and played a full first season pro in the AHL. Gormley is now in his second full season with Portland! He's been awarded a leadership role as alternate captain and is enjoying improved success offensively. From everything I read this off season Gormley was in the shape of his life, ready to step in with the big club. But alas, the Coyotes decided to keep him in Portland to continue his development and not rush him. Meanwhile the likes of Michael Stone and Connor Murphy have been given shots at the NHL level, and it's curious why they didn't use Gormley in that role.

I think it's a smart plan, giving him plenty of time to mature his game from junior to pro. No rush. It also probably adds extra motivation for Gormley to prove to the organization he's more valuable and talented than those other prospects that seem ahead of him.

I'd like to see the Penguins use a similar development model on Pouliot. I still think Letang should have played a full season in WB/S before earning a permanent job on the NHL squad. I guess he filled and immediate need and the management thought he was ready to keep up with NHL speed and physicality. I still think more seasoning in the AHL could have improved his defensive game and made him a more complete and well rounded player. But I'm not an NHL GM and this is only one persons opinion. I hope they don't let Pouliot see NHL action until he's at least 22/23 years old.
 
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mynameistickle said:
This may be slightly off topic but how do you guys think Derrick Pouliot and Brandon Gormley compare?

I think they're similar players in terms of what kind of a role they fill, I realize Gormley has an inch or so on Pouliot but I think for the intent and purpose of discussion, they are quite similar.

Gormley played out his final year of junior and competed for Team Canada at the WJC much like Gormley did. Then turned pro and played a full first season pro in the AHL. Gormley is now in his second full season with Portland! He's been awarded a leadership role as alternate captain and is enjoying improved success offensively. From everything I read this off season Gormley was in the shape of his life, ready to step in with the big club. But alas, the Coyotes decided to keep him in Portland to continue his development and not rush him. Meanwhile the likes of Michael Stone and Connor Murphy have been given shots at the NHL level, and it's curious why they didn't use Gormley in that role.

I think it's a smart plan, giving him plenty of time to mature his game from junior to pro. No rush. It also probably adds extra motivation for Gormley to prove to the organization he's more valuable and talented than those other prospects that seem ahead of him.

I'd like to see the Penguins use a similar development model on Pouliot. I still think Letang should have played a full season in WB/S before earning a permanent job on the NHL squad. I guess he filled and immediate need and the management thought he was ready to keep up with NHL speed and physicality. I still think more seasoning in the AHL could have improved his defensive game and made him a more complete and well rounded player. But I'm not an NHL GM and this is only one persons opinion. I hope they don't let Pouliot see NHL action until he's at least 22/23 years old.
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I really don't think Pouliot & Gormley are the same type of player at all. I mean, sure: they both have great hockey sense & vision, but they will not really play the same way or same role, IMO.

Gormley is really impressive. He's a fair bit bigger (at least 2 inches) than Pouliot, and he's already very adept at playing the right side. I think Gormley will be a bit more of an effective all-around and two-way player than Pouliot. Gormley will be used more often in all situations than Pouliot. But Gormley does have enough hockey sense, vision and skill to contribute offensively (and can play the first or 2nd PP unit), but isn't as purely offensively gifted as Pouliot. Pouliot will also be a big more of a high-risk player, whereas Gormley will be a safer player all around, despite still being productive all over the ice.

Pouliot is more purely offensively gifted, and will be a more natural productive offensive contributor and PP QB than Gormley. His game is versatile enough to play in all situations, but he won't be as good as Gormely in the defensive zone, just because he's not as big and strong. Pouliot really needs to improve his strength and top-end speed to compete against the bigger & stronger NHLers. Gormely is already bigger & stronger, and I think the way he moves around the ice is superior to Pouliot, at least at this point in time.
 
AHL website has Gormley at 6'2" 196LBS.
WHL website has Pouliot at 6'0" 203LBS.

Im not saying Gormley doesnt play a more physical brand of hockey but Pouliot is physically similar to him albeit 2" shorter.

I also think youre severely downplaying Gormley's offensive ability. His numbers in the Q were as good if not better than Pouliot. Yes the Q is a decidedly less defensive league, but he still has offensive tools.
 
Pouliot won the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for the best D in the WHL after putting up 17 goals and 70 points in 58 games with a +40. Great to see for Pens fans, this kid is legit. He's also scoring at a 134 points/72 game pace in the playoffs right now (26 points in 14 games).
 
Vokouna Maattata said:
Pouliot won the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for the best D in the WHL after putting up 17 goals and 70 points in 58 games with a +40. Great to see for Pens fans, this kid is legit. He's also scoring at a 134 points/72 game pace in the playoffs right now (26 points in 14 games).
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I thought Morrissey was going to win the award but Pouliot had a good season so congratulations.
 
ps241 said:
I thought Morrissey was going to win the award but Pouliot had a good season so congratulations.
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Pouliot can win all the WHL defensemen of the year titles, but I would easily take Morrissey on my team. Pouliot is going to be murdered alive defensively against 6'3" players.
 
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