<p>Jeremie Poirier is the type of defenceman the Calgary Flames dream of graduating to the NHL roster. Drafted in the third round, 72nd overall, he will be found money if can translate his offensive gifts from the AHL to the NHL. Poirier is a product of the QMJHL and was an alternate captain for the Saint John Sea Dogs before being drafted by the Flames.</p>
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<p>He was ranked seventh on the FlamesNation prospect list during the 2024 off-season. He had dropped a few places on the list due to the team’s strong draft choices and players acquired in trades. Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz are the only defensive prospects currently ranked higher than Poirier and that is not an indictment on him at all; those are players the Flames <strong>expect</strong> to be part of their future.</p>
<h2>Last season</h2>
<p>Poirier had a stellar rookie season with the Calgary Wranglers two years ago and then as Flames’ familiars know he was setback with two medical issues after a strong start in his second campaign with the Wranglers. A burst appendix had started his injury woes and then a skate laceration to his arm derailed the season. It was especially unfortunate because at a time when there were jobs for the taking on the big club he was rehabilitating his body for a return to the AHL.</p>
<p>All the same, Poirier managed to play 23 games with the Wranglers and maintained his above a half point-per-game pace that he had the season before. He also contributed a goal and 3 assists in the 6 games the Wranglers played in the AHL playoffs.</p>
<h2>This season</h2>
<p>Poirier is once again above a half-point-per-game pace which places him top 20 in AHL defenceman for scoring and tied for seventh on the Calgary Wranglers.</p>
<p>The Flames are slowly working their way through their minor league affiliate’s players and taking stock of their options for when NHL regulars are unable to play. It is not any surprise that Ilya Solovyov has been the only Wrangler defenceman to come up to the NHL. Solovyov is a defensive defenseman who was tasked with stabilizing the Flames&#8217; blue line. Poirier’s more dynamic style of play is better suited to a team that was looking for an injection of scoring rather than a steadying presence.</p>
<p>Poirier is a model of consistency when it comes to his scoring percentage. He plays a key role on the AHL squad and it probably feels like he is just waiting for his shot in the NHL.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Per Wranglers interim head coach Joe Cirella, F William Strömgren and D Jeremie Poirier sat against Ontario on Saturday afternoon as a &quot;development decision.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Pn8Rpsjrdt">pic.twitter.com/Pn8Rpsjrdt</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Ryan Pike (@RyanNPike) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanNPike/status/1890927277061333470?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>However, seizing an NHL call-up and waiting for one are two different sides of the same coin. Regardless of the circumstances of his recent trip to the press box, Poirier isn’t of the pedigree where much will be given to him.</p>
<p>There have been unavoidable obstacles on his road from minor league professional to major league professional so he must make sure not to get in his own way. It is incumbent upon him to prove he is ready. He is a young player and won’t turn 23 until this June and the Flames are nothing if they aren’t comfortable letting prospects play big minutes in the AHL before they receive a long-term call-up.</p>
<p>Poirier has never gotten a real taste of NHL action so the anticipation around his debut continues to grow. The central discussion is not whether he gets a few NHL games but instead what he does with the opportunity.</p>
<p><strong>Sponsored by bet365:</strong></p>
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Jeremie Poirier is the type of defenceman the Calgary Flames dream of graduating to the NHL roster. Drafted in the third round, 72nd overall, he will be found money if can translate his offensive gifts from the AHL to the NHL. Poirier is a product of the QMJHL and was an alternate captain for the Saint John Sea Dogs before being drafted by the Flames.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2109" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="328"></div>
He was ranked seventh on the FlamesNation prospect list during the 2024 off-season. He had dropped a few places on the list due to the team’s strong draft choices and players acquired in trades. Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz are the only defensive prospects currently ranked higher than Poirier and that is not an indictment on him at all; those are players the Flames <strong>expect</strong> to be part of their future.
<h2>Last season</h2>
Poirier had a stellar rookie season with the Calgary Wranglers two years ago and then as Flames’ familiars know he was setback with two medical issues after a strong start in his second campaign with the Wranglers. A burst appendix had started his injury woes and then a skate laceration to his arm derailed the season. It was especially unfortunate because at a time when there were jobs for the taking on the big club he was rehabilitating his body for a return to the AHL.

All the same, Poirier managed to play 23 games with the Wranglers and maintained his above a half point-per-game pace that he had the season before. He also contributed a goal and 3 assists in the 6 games the Wranglers played in the AHL playoffs.
<h2>This season</h2>
Poirier is once again above a half-point-per-game pace which places him top 20 in AHL defenceman for scoring and tied for seventh on the Calgary Wranglers.

The Flames are slowly working their way through their minor league affiliate’s players and taking stock of their options for when NHL regulars are unable to play. It is not any surprise that Ilya Solovyov has been the only Wrangler defenceman to come up to the NHL. Solovyov is a defensive defenseman who was tasked with stabilizing the Flames' blue line. Poirier’s more dynamic style of play is better suited to a team that was looking for an injection of scoring rather than a steadying presence.

Poirier is a model of consistency when it comes to his scoring percentage. He plays a key role on the AHL squad and it probably feels like he is just waiting for his shot in the NHL.

[embed]https://twitter.com/ryannpike/status/1890927277061333470?s=61[/embed]

However, seizing an NHL call-up and waiting for one are two different sides of the same coin. Regardless of the circumstances of his recent trip to the press box, Poirier isn’t of the pedigree where much will be given to him.

There have been unavoidable obstacles on his road from minor league professional to major league professional so he must make sure not to get in his own way. It is incumbent upon him to prove he is ready. He is a young player and won’t turn 23 until this June and the Flames are nothing if they aren’t comfortable letting prospects play big minutes in the AHL before they receive a long-term call-up.

Poirier has never gotten a real taste of NHL action so the anticipation around his debut continues to grow. The central discussion is not whether he gets a few NHL games but instead what he does with the opportunity.

<strong>Sponsored by bet365:</strong>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="328" data-promotion-id="19111" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>

Flames prospect Jeremie Poirier is awaiting his chance to prove himself in the NHL

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