# @draftinghockey on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CULNMPJsgPI
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/66178948-draftinghockey-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/5acc85b0e7.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-09-23T19:00:16.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Hockey Prospects (@draftinghockey) — https://gondola.cc/draftinghockey

## Caption

We return to the infamous 2012 draft with the 8th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins, defenseman Derrick Pouliot. He was ranked 12 by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau but was picked before other defensemen due to his offensive ability; despite a bigger flaw being his defensive ability. In his draft year, he had 59 points in all 72 games for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL and got 17 points in 22 playoff games. He finished his junior career with 205 points in 247 games with a (+/-) 102. He started his professional career with the AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, to begin the 2014-2015 season but due to several injuries on the pro roster, Pouliot ended up splitting his first professional season between the NHL and minors. He had 24 points in 31 games for the AHL squad and 7 points in 34 games for the Penguins. This trend of splitting the season between the NHL and minors continued for the next two seasons, playing less and less NHL games over time.

Pouliot was traded to the Vancouver Canucks before the 2017-18 season began and put up an NHL career high 22 points in 71 games, but was a (+/-) -22. The following season his production dropped and did not receive a qualifying offer from the Canucks, making him a free agent. He signed with the St. Louis Blues for the next season but only played 2 games for them and spent the rest of the season with their AHL team, where he had 39 points in 58 games. Again, he would not be given a qualifying offer making him a free agent. He signed a one year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers but never played and was in the minors. For this upcoming season, Pouliot signed a one-year AHL deal with the Henderson Silver Knights, the minor league team for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Pouliot was never able to replicate his offensive numbers at the NHL level nor was he able to properly develop a stronger defensive game, even in the AHL with his (+/-) being just 6 in 197 games, and he is a -35 in 202 NHL games. That said, he was on pace to have a good rookie AHL season before the Penguins called him up. It makes you wonder if the Penguins didn’t have all those injuries, maybe Pouliot could have developed successfully.

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 1,237
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- **Comments:** 11

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aaron | @aircreates | https://gondola.cc/aircreates | Graphic Designer |
| Aaron | @aircreates | https://gondola.cc/aircreates | Creator |

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