Jeremie Poirier had the potential to make his National Hockey League debut last season based on his impressive play in his rookie year in the American League. He would’ve joined many peers in their rookie laps and could have been an offensive help on the Flames blue line.
However, similarly to Jakob Pelletier, Poirier had a year of a few setbacks that prevented him from playing a full season in the AHL and made it that much tougher to ready himself for NHL play. However, his focus remains unchanged and he still looks forward to the future of this organization. 

The past 

Jeremie Poirier was born in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec in 2002. His junior playing years consisted of local play for various leagues in Quebec. He debuted in the QMHJL in 2018-19 with the Saint John Sea Dogs. In his first year with the team, he played in 61 games and put up a total of 21 points. 
He played the next three seasons with the Sea Dogs serving as Alternate Captain in his third and fourth years. He has also represented Canada once in the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in 2018-19 where he played in five games and put up six points. His best year in the QMJHL was his last season when he played in a personal high of 67 games and scored 57 points consisting of 16 goals and 41 assists. This was also the year he won a Memorial Cup and likely a year that will forever stand out in his mind.
Poirier was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft in the third round, 72nd overall. He finished up his junior career and then made the jump to the AHL to start his professional career. He was on the opening roster for the inaugural Wranglers season and played in nearly every game his rookie year.
In 2022-23 Poirier played 69 games with Calgary putting up nine goals and 32 assists for a total of 41 points. This earned him the recognition of the AHL All-Rookie team and he was second in the AHL for defensive scoring by a rookie. Even as a blue liner, Poirier finished sixth in team scoring his first year.
In his first appearance in the Calder Cup playoffs, he played in all nine games putting up just shy of a point per game with two goals and six assists. He’s got incredible hockey IQ and stickhandling abilities that make you do a double-take to see if he’s actually a blueliner. He is also nearly perfect in shootouts. He’s aware of his offensive game too. He said:
“I’ve always been a really offensive guy. It’s always been the main part of my game. It’s kind of my bread and butter. It’s kind of what got me here and always carried me through my hockey career.”

 The present

Jeremie Poirier didn’t get a full showing at Flames training camp last fall but that was no fault of his own. In Wranglers’ exit interviews in the spring, he revealed the circumstances around his absence. He said, “I had knee surgery so I was in crutches pretty much all summer. Then when I showed back up to Calgary for training camp, the first day I got back my appendix burst and I had to have emergency surgery to remove it. That took me out for another month and a half. So, the skating part and getting ready part was a challenge last summer. It was more of a rehab time.”
Even with those setbacks, Poirier was still able to play in the Wranglers’ season opener on Oct. 13 and scored three points against the Moose. He also scored the first goal of the year for the second season in a row.
Unfortunately, he only played four games in October before he suffered a skate laceration injury to his right arm on October 21st against the Abbotsford Canucks. The team announced a couple of days later that he would need surgery and would be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. That time frame ended up being just shy of five months and took its toll on him.
Poirier said the mental side had its effect:
“I think that was the hardest part about it. Especially, throughout the whole year this season, spending so much time alone. When you play a team sport like hockey, you’re used to being with your teammates every day. Come to the rink, have a couple laughs, grab a coffee with the guys, it’s just like the normal part about it. You come in for breakfast and you just see the guys and enjoy your time with them.”
That social aspect and day-to-day team routine were ripped away from him and left him in solitude. His routine took a complete turn. He said:
“For me it was go to the rink by yourself. Do your rehab by yourself. Go home, sit on your couch by yourself. With one hand. You couldn’t do anything. It was a challenging year mentally obviously, just to spend that much time alone.”
Poirier went on to say he couldn’t even flip a light switch or hold a glass of water with his injured arm during the time of his recovery. He had to teach himself to be without his dominant hand for quite some time. Even at the end of the season, he could feel some discomfort after the playoffs.
He said:
“On a day-to-day basis, I can operate and do everything I need perfectly fine, but when it comes to playing a playoff hockey game with everything that’s going on around it, there’s some days where my hand won’t feel great but I think it’s part of the game.”
Poirier ended up returning to the Wranglers lineup on Mar. 3 against the Colorado Eagles and just by his third game back, he was back putting up points. He only missed a couple of games between his return and the end of the season and finished his regular season with 23 games played, three goals and 10 assists.
In post-season play, he was still able to contribute in all six games with a goal and three assists for a total of four points. Three of which, came in one game in their Coachella Valley series.

The future

Jeremie Poirier is in the last year of his entry-level contract and assuming he is healthy most if not all of the year, this will very likely be the year he makes the jump to the NHL. He was already shortlisted for call-ups based on his skillset and historical play but his laceration injury prevented that from coming to fruition. 
His eyes are still on the prize and he wants to sport that Flaming C in the near future. It all starts with his full summer of training and then doing what he can at training camp. He said:
“I think every single hockey player that is sitting here today, their goal is to show up to training camp next year and play in the NHL. I think it’s the goal for every player. It’s the same for me. I’m no different. It’s good for me to have a great summer and show up to training camp just be ready mentally, physically, feeling good in my own skin and just show up and let my play do the talking. Hopefully, get a chance to play.  I’ll be as ready as I can. Just a matter of taking the opportunity when it comes.”
Poirier’s got the tools to make it there and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before he gets his rookie lap moment.
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