Thoughts on Emile Poirier

[colbym72]

What are our thoughts on this guys progress? I have not heard of him much lately..Do you think he will ever make the roster?

[codynw]

Bust.

[mdubz]

Over 0.5 ppg in his second pro season. I wouldn't give him "bust" status yet.

[dammage79]

I'm not as keen on Poirier as I once was. Rough start to the year, Had major shoulder surgery since being drafted. Not saying he's going to bust but I definitely thought he had 1st line potential, now I'm thinking he's closer to 3rd line. I mean it's all guesswork from a fan perspective, but that's my gut feeling.

[Moneyhands23]

I think he needs another full year in the AHL next year. He has the tools to Crack the top 6 but his development has hot a few bumps with his speed/shot and grit/pest behavior he could be great.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Too early to write him off. He's still got some promise.

You'd like to see him compete for a spot next training camp or partway through the year (due to injuries).

[locsofblu]

One of many flames first round busts.

[Vinny01]

Top 9 forward with top 6 upside.
Hilarious people write off a 21 year old as a bust when he was an all star in his first pro season

[tvp2003]

Mentioned in the "jerk" thread that he might have to add the grit/pest role back to his game if he wants to make the jump to the NHL. He still has the skating but the offence/production just isn't there for him this year.

[saillias]

-French kid
-Long face
-Fast
-Not sure what his height actually is, the Flames org is maddeningly unreliable/inconsistent with these measurements.
-Very little up to date information on how he is progressing as a player from the usual sources. You can find what his coach has to say but that's about it. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

[icecube]

Hard to say when most of us have never watched him play a single game in either juniors or at the pro level.

[flamesfan55]

Based off of what I have heard from the FAN he started really slow but has been improving over the last month or so. Think he will be a top 6 forward.

[RM14]

Compared to other late firsts in the 2013 draft? Not bad but not great. Klimchuk seems like more of a bust at this point. However, there are still a few years of development time for him to become an NHLer. NO RUSH!

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2013e.html

[Toonage]

Like a lot of our prospects he's been shoved into a system he isn't used to playing, given roles he wasn't proficient at and asked to improve on them. The results are expected. I like that the Flames want their players all well rounded 200 ft guys, but sometimes you need to defer to a player's strengths and fit other players - AHL regulars - around that.

[Hackey]

Disappointing season but hopefully turns it around. Haven't lost hope but definitely lost a bit of optimisim.

[Poe969]

I think that he has a girls name every time I see it. I also think that he has potential to be a second line winger but will likely be a third line guy on the team in the next 2 years.

[Bezer]

I still have hope he will be a top 6 player in the NHL. He will just take a bit longer to develop.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Lot's of first round picks take 3-5 years to be ready, especially the ones taken in the latter half of the first round. Fans usually expect them to be ready quicker but what can ya do. Look how long it took Backlund.

Nothing too worrying about Poirier's development so far. Anyone calling him a bust in this thread doesn't know what they're talking about as far as I'm concerned.

[Gaudfather]

Ideally the Flames can move some vets at the trade deadline (Hudler, Jones) and create some room to bring guys like Poirier and Agostino up for a cup of coffee in the NHL.

Poirier is at a critical juncture in his pro career - he has to decide if he really wants to give it all it takes, and work exceptionally hard this off season. I think if the will is there, then there is still a way for this kid.

I can see him as the Flames version of Brad Marchand if he is willing to devote himself to this role. He is one of the Flames dark horses in the AHL.

[Erick Estrada]

He put up good numbers in his last two junior seasons and had a very good first AHL season. This season has not been as good statistically but I understand he's been trying to work on other areas of his game. Too early to write him off but it would be nice to see him have strong training camp next fall.