Poirier, 23, was drafted 22nd overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He has primarily played in the American Hockey League since finishing his junior career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Starting with the former Abbotsford Heat, working his way through the system as an Adirondack Flame, before finishing his tenure in Calgary as a part of the Stockton Heat, Poirier put up respectable numbers.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound forward has yet to hit the 20-goal benchmark, but came very close in 2014-15 with a 19-goal, 42-point campaign in Adirondack. The 2017-18 season saw the Montreal, QB. native register seven goals and 31 points in 65 regular season AHL games.
Prior to the 2017-18 season, Poirier opened up to the media of his on-ice issues related to alcoholism and addiction. After finally determining he needed to make a change, Poirier was admitted into the NHL’s rehab program in California for a handful of months. He sorted his life out and came back to Calgary a better player and more importantly a better man.
After saying goodbye to the team that selected him midway through the first round of the NHL Draft just five years ago, Poirier is looking to make good on his revamped lifestyle and work ethic. Signing a minor league deal with the Manitoba Moose is the first step on his long journey of recovery. Poirier has dressed in eight NHL games with the Flames, collecting one assist and one penalty.
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