Top 25 Under 25: #14 Emile Poirier

#14: Emile Poirier

Position: F

Age: 21

Team: Stockton Heat

Drafted: 2011 #22 (Round 1)

Emile Poirier is a young offense prospect with highlight reel scoring ability that the Flames have high hopes for. The Montreal native is signed for another 2 years at $863,333 ($70k at the AHL level) and this coming season will be his 4th season under contract with Calgary.

Poirier has had two quick stints with Calgary in the last 2 seasons totaling 8 games. Not exactly a sample to judge anything by, but his AHL numbers are steady and show he has goal scoring potential (he was 7th on Stockton in scoring last season). His best season in the minors came 2 years ago where he 42 points in 55 games for the Adirondack Flames.

Poirier is a player the Flames can take their time developing. There’s a backlog of forwards ahead of him at the NHL level and players like Mark Jankowski and Matthew Tkachuk would appear to have at least a better shot of making the big club ahead of Emile. The Flames have invested time and resources into Poirier and this season could be a make or break type situation for him in Stockton. Yes, the Flames have players at the NHL level that could be moved or moving on, but with a few players climbing the ranks ahead of him, Poirier needs a good showing to keep on pace or pull ahead.

by Mark Parkinson