Flames Top 25 Under 25: #17 - Emile Poirier

#17: Emile Poirier

Position: F

Age: 22

Team: Stockton Heat

Drafted: 2013 #22 (Round 1)

Last Year Rank: #14

Emile Poirier is entering his 4th season with the Flames organization, all of which he has spent in the AHL. He’s seen 8 games at the NHL level with the Flames, but he’s found himself almost exclusively with Adirondack and now Stockton. Poirier is coming off a 17 point season in a career low 43 games with the Heat last season.

Poirier’s journey with the Flames hasn’t been an easy one. He started out gangbusters and showed why the Flames were smart to draft him in the first round back in 2013. He had great speed and could move the puck and score with ease. But issues outside of hockey have sidetracked Poirier over the last few seasons. Poirier came out and admitted he had an alcohol addicition, something he is working on and that no doubt contributed to his play slipping. The Flames have always shown patience with players who have issues outside of the rink and their patience could pay off if Poirier can overcome his demons.

(Stats Courtesy Elite Prospects)