Emile Poirier update

[midniteowl]

It's courage of the kid to reach out and ask for help...good luck Emile

[flamesrule14]

Great to hear he has been getting the help he needs. Here's hoping he is on the right track and can move on and become a player for the flames. I had written him off a bit when this season ended, but would definitely be an added bonus if he can get back to where he was 2 years ago.

[fanman]

Glad to hear he recognized the problem and reached out himself, and also glad that he's back on track. I still have hopes that he'll crack the roster one day.

Best of luck Emile!

[Calgary4LIfe]

If Poirier makes the Flames one day (and I think if he remains in control of his personal issues, he will), the Flames are going to be one heck of a fast team.

Monahan and Tkachuk are 'average' I would say. Perhaps a bit below, but if so, not much below at all. Certainly not slow.

The only slow player on the roster would be Brouwer. Stajan is coming up to his last season here more than likely (and I wouldn't say he is exactly slow anyways).

Gaudreau, Backlund, Frolik, Lazar, Bennett are all pretty damn fast. Add Poirier to the mix of that. Plus guys like Ferland can really move. And wow - almost all of these guys are tenacious and difficult to play against. Add Foo to that mix now as well. Add in a top 4 that is 100% mobile. Sprinkle a prospect like Kylington to that back-end, and it becomes filthy.

Flames are going to be a pretty fast team for years to come.

[devo22]

Awesome. First and foremost, it's important that he's been getting help and seemingly is doing better. The hockey career is gravy.

Good to see that the Flames are helping and supporting him, whatever the issues are. Not too surprising though, they supported Ferland too and have proved they're a classy organization in general.

As a fan, him getting his career back on track would be fantastic. Was probably my favourite prospect only a couple of years ago because of his speed, skill and nastiness. Would be great to see him get to the NHL level, but again, just glad he's been getting help. Asking for that and acknowledging a problem is a big step, so glad he's been doing that.

[LIP MAN]

Originally Posted by devo22

Awesome. First and foremost, it's important that he's been getting help and seemingly is doing better. The hockey career is gravy.

Good to see that the Flames are helping and supporting him, whatever the issues are. Not too surprising though, they supported Ferland too and have proved they're a classy organization in general.

As a fan, him getting his career back on track would be fantastic. Was probably my favourite prospect only a couple of years ago because of his speed, skill and nastiness. Would be great to see him get to the NHL level, but again, just glad he's been getting help. Asking for that and acknowledging a problem is a big step, so glad he's been doing that.

Really great to hear he's recognized the there's help, and big of him to call Brad and work on it right away. And having someone in the organization like Ferland (and Big Urn before him) that just "gets it" is a really good thing for him.

I see big things for Emile in the future here, us fans are also behind him.

[Itse]

Nice. Feel-good days for the Flames it seems.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

It's courage of the kid to reach out and ask for help...good luck Emile

It takes further courage to be the guy to answer that call.

Good on both sides. If anything I'm sad that Big 'Ern isnt here anymore, he'd sort this out.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Cole436

It was news that came out earlier this month I think? I believe it was a confirmed source.

I definitely heard that it was a substance abuse issue but cannot recall the source either.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by Locke

It takes further courage to be the guy to answer that call.

Good on both sides. If anything I'm sad that Big 'Ern isnt here anymore, he'd sort this out.

Big Ern lives here, he's helping behind the scenes. So is Ferland. That's How it Works.

[Southside]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I definitely heard that it was a substance abuse issue but cannot recall the source either.

Wasn't it one of the Stockton reports, or coach conversations with Pinder on 960? I can't recall for certain, but it seems to me that's where the substance abuse angle came from.

At any rate glad to hear he took it on and that Brad feels he will come out of it for the better.

[Roof-Daddy]

Nm

[Tinordi]

He was one of our most intriguing prospects 2 years ago. Now it's looking like bust. In the end, this young man's life matters much more. Hope he can get it back, very difficult to commit to the harsh realities and demands of becoming a pro athlete while also trying to stay on the wagon.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by Southside

Wasn't it one of the Stockton reports, or coach conversations with Pinder on 960? I can't recall for certain, but it seems to me that's where the substance abuse angle came from.

At any rate glad to hear he took it on and that Brad feels he will come out of it for the better.

I think it was an interview Pinder did with Brad Pascall.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by mikeecho

I think it was an interview Pinder did with Brad Pascall.

Yes, I recall that interview. It was a season-ender on the Stockton Heat.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by Racki

Big Ern lives here, he's helping behind the scenes. So is Ferland. That's How it Works.

Is he fully retired now? Sources from Wikipedia show that he's been part of the NHL substance abuse program since Oct 2012 but he was most recently playing in the UK last season.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Is he fully retired now? Sources from Wikipedia show that he's been part of the NHL substance abuse program since Oct 2012 but he was most recently playing in the UK last season.

Yeah he played over there last season but isn't going back. Seems to have settled in Calgary again, he's been around a lot lately

[StrykerSteve]

I believe the details of Poirier's troubles came from one of the recent season ticket holders' meetings where Flames brass let it be known he had been in rehab for substance abuse. It was then posted here.

[csnarpy]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

I believe the details of Poirier's troubles came from one of the recent season ticket holders' meetings where Flames brass let it be known he had been in rehab for substance abuse. It was then posted here.

Yes. I posted this as it came out "officially" by Tre in the STH meeting. Poirier had check himself in to substance abuse rehab facility.

[flamesfan55]

Poirier suffered from a drinking problem..

Darren Haynes‏Verified account @DarrenWHaynes 11m11 minutes ago
Good on Emile Poirier, who spoke today about his time away from hockey, a result of a drinking problem he realized he had to tackle head-on.


Darren Haynes‏Verified account @DarrenWHaynes 9m9 minutes ago help. "I called him for support, I needed help and he's been truly supportive through the process."

Darren Haynes‏Verified account @DarrenWHaynes 5m5 minutes ago Emile Poirier, in good hands: "I'm working with Brian McGrattan every day. He's awesome with me and he's helped me go through this process."