Émile Poirier Set for NHL Debut With Flames

On Monday, the Calgary Flames recalled forward Émile Poirier for the first time this season and for the first time in the 20-year old’s career. His first NHL game is scheduled to be Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. The former first round pick of the 2013 NHL Draft will be coming up during a very impressive season in the AHL.

Poirier played in the QMJHL with the Gatineau Olympiques before he was selected 22nd overall in 2013. He had a somewhat surprising season during his draft year where he scored 30+ goals and completed 65 games with 70 points. The year after that, Poirier blew doors down with his 40 goal performance and improvement to 87 points in 2 less games. All of this on an okay Gatineau team who were in the playoffs, but didn’t get very far.

Émile Poirier is now playing his first full season in the AHL. He played 2 games in 2014 when the Flames were in Abbotsford Heat. In those two games, he showed a lot of promise with his play. He plugged in 2 goals and 2 assists and proved that he could be successful at the professional level.

Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; Emile Poirier puts on a team cap as he is introduced as the number twenty-two overall pick to the Calgary Flames during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

In this 2014-15 season for the Adirondack Flames, Poirier is the team’s top scorer with 14 goals and 16 assists in 42 games. Poirier was also invited to the AHL All-Star game in honor of his “all-star” performance. During the All-Star game, Poirier added a goal and two assists of his own in the West win.

Poirier will look to take advantage of a roster opening Tuesday. Teammate Mayson Raymond will be unable to attend the match due to the birth of a child. Poirier will need to play with an extra pep in his step in order to see more playing time for the successful NHL Flames this season.

A full season with the AHL Flames will not hurt his development, however. Poirier has the opportunity to lead his Flames into the playoffs. The Flames sit 10th in the Western Conference with 57 points. The Chicago Wolves hold the last playoff spot in the West with 60 points. Poirier will be able to experience a fighting-to-survive hockey team while still in the AHL.

Poirier and the Flames play at MSG on Tuesday at 7:00 EST