The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed top prospect Sam Poulin to a three-year entry-level contract. Poulin was selected 21st overall in this June’s draft, and played last season with the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL. Penguins GM Jim Rutherford released a short statement on the signing:
Sam is a good, young forward whose style is hard to play against. He has had a good training camp and we’re happy to get him signed and look forward to watching his development.
Poulin, 18, will be heading back to the Phoenix this year as a potential dominant player in the CHL. Last season saw him record 76 points in 67 games, a number he should easily eclipse this time around as long as he continues to play his solid two-way game that allows the coaching staff to keep him on the ice. A candidate for the Canadian World Junior team at some point, Poulin recently won the gold medal at the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament.
As they have for a decade, the Penguins will hope to support Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin up front with their draft picks and college signings, needing only a silver of production to help out their star centers.