Kevin Poulin Explained

Kevin Poulin
Played For:New York Islanders
Barys Astana
KHL Medveščak Zagreb
EHC Kloten
Eisbären Berlin
IF Björklöven
Position:Goaltender
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:210
Catches:Left
Ntl Team:Canada
Birth Date:12 April 1990
Birth Place:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Draft:126th overall
Draft Team:New York Islanders
Draft Year:2008
Career Start:2010
Career End:2023

Kevin Bureau-Poulin[1] (born April 12, 1990) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Poulin was selected by the National Hockey League (NHL)'s New York Islanders in the fifth round, 126th overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Poulin first played major junior hockey in 2006 for the Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), posting a 3.34 Goals against average (GAA) and a .896 save percentage in 24 games. In 2008, Poulin was drafted by the New York Islanders in the fifth round, 126th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He continued to play in Victoriaville until his final year of major junior in 2010, posting 2.63 GAA and .916 save percentage, his best career QMJHL numbers.

Poulin began the 2010–11 season playing with the Islanders' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, but on January 4, 2011, was recalled to the NHL due to an injury to Rick DiPietro.[2] Poulin made his NHL debut on January 6, 2011, in relief against the Edmonton Oilers. His first NHL start was two days later on January 8 against the Colorado Avalanche. On February 8, he injured his knee during warmups and later had season ending surgery. On February 23, 2013, Poulin was recalled to replace DiPietro, who was placed on waivers a day before and then cleared waivers prior to being sent to the Sound Tigers.

As the backup for Evgeni Nabokov during the 2012–13 season, Poulin had one win, three losses and a 3.02 GAA and .893 save percentage in four starts for the Islanders, as well as relieving Nabokov once. Entering the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2007 as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference against the top-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins, Poulin replaced Nabokov in Game 1.[3] and Game 5,[4] The Islanders were eliminated in six games.[5] Poulin finished the playoffs with a 1.15 GAA and .933 save percentage.

On September 27, 2015, the Islanders placed Poulin on waivers for assignment to the AHL, where he was claimed by the Tampa Bay Lightning. On November 12, 2015, after playing no games for the Lightning, Poulin was traded to the Calgary Flames in exchange for future considerations.[6]

On October 27, 2016, Poulin was signed by Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).[7] He made 14 appearances for the club throughout the 2016–17 season. In October 2017, he was acquired by KHL Medveščak Zagreb, a Croatian team competing in the Austrian Hockey League. In late December 2017, he helped Team Canada win the prestigious Spengler Cup in Davos, coming up with an impressive performance in the championship game.[8]

On January 14, 2018, Poulin left Medveščak Zagreb to join EHC Kloten of the Swiss National League for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[9] During the 2018–19 season Poulin posted a 22–20–0 record, with a 2.80 GAA and 0.915 save percentage for Eisbären Berlin.

Having returned to North America prior to the 2019–20 season, on December 26, 2019, the Grand Rapids Griffins signed Poulin to a professional tryout (PTO).[10] He made 3 appearances with the Griffins before he was released from his try-out. On February 7, 2020, he was signed to his second PTO, joining the Ontario Reign, affiliate to the Los Angeles Kings. He was later signed to a one-year NHL contract with the Kings for the remainder of the season to serve as the Reign's backup on February 22, 2020. He appeared in 4 games with the Reign before the remainder of the 2019–20 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a free agent from the Kings, Poulin opted to return to Europe by agreeing to an optional two-year contract with Swedish second-tier club, IF Björklöven of the HockeyAllsvenskan, on July 7, 2020.[11] In the 2020–21 season, Poulin as the starting goaltender led IF Björklöven to a third-place finish in the regular season, posting 20 wins through 30 appearances. He helped IF Björklöven advance to the qualification finals, before losing to Timrå IK.

On June 29, 2021, Poulin opted to end his tenure in Sweden, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens, AHL affiliate and hometown club the Laval Rocket. He split time with Rocket and the Canadiens' ECHL affiliate, the Trois-Rivières Lions.[12] He was re-signed by the Rocket to a one-year contract extension for the 2022–23 season on July 19, 2022.[13]

International play

During the 2017–18 season, Poulin was selected to represent Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.[14] Poulin collected 3 wins in 4 games to help Canada claim the bronze medal.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLT/OTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2006–07Victoriaville TigresQJMHL2410601220680 3.34.89620041507.20.808
2007–08Victoriaville TigresQJMHL521823327341710 3.75.8856242792705.80.846
2008–09Victoriaville TigresQJMHL3918163122011413.01.9054 042491804.34.903
2009–10Victoriaville TigresQJMHL5435160310513672.63.91616 1069714602.84.918
2010–11Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL1510509033322.19.932
2010–11New York IslandersNHL10421491200 2.44.924
2011–12Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL4926184294313732.79.9123031941003.09.917
2011–12New York IslandersNHL6240296150 3.04.907
2012–13Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL321514318249813.22.904
2012–13New York IslandersNHL5130258130 3.02.89320052101.15.933
2013–14New York IslandersNHL28111611625890 3.29.891
2013–14Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL152121904400 2.65.910
2014–15Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL4516217261212522.87.912
2014–15New York IslandersNHL10016530 2.77.885
2015–16Stockton HeatAHL291411317018122.86.909
2016–17Laval PredatorsLNAH101059505.06.853
2016–17Barys AstanaKHL146607683412.66.909
2017–18KHL Medveščak ZagrebEBEL221274640 3.01.913
2017–18EHC KlotenNL211011970 3.53.868
2018–19Eisbären BerlinDEL432220024621153 2.80.9158444992022.00.930
2019–20Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL3012189702.22.915
2019–20Ontario ReignAHL4210199100 3.01.914
2020–21IF BjörklövenAllsv30209016386132.23.91516889325703.67.881
2021–22Trois-Rivières LionsECHL8251481260 3.24.894
2021–22Laval RocketAHL30188317476822.34.92010159404.07.867
2022–23Laval RocketAHL28121231625860 3.18.890
NHL totals5018253273614003.07.89920052101.15.933

International

YearTeamEventResult GPWLTMINSHGASOGAASV%
2017CanadaSC3300180102311.00.971
2018CanadaOG421021383822.25.904
Senior totals75103931851131.68.941

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kevin Poulin player profile . Eliteprospects.com . 2015-02-03 . 2015-02-03.
  2. Web site: Bridgeport goaltender Kevin Poulin to be recalled by Isles . . 2011-01-04 . 2011-01-04.
  3. http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/3946329-74/nabokov-islanders-penguins#axzz2T4DkOAhE Islanders notebook: Nabokov pulled in second period | TribLIVE
  4. https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/5/9/4317342/penguins-vs-islanders-game-5-evgeni-nabokov-pulled-four-goals Penguins vs. Islanders Game 5 Update: Evgeni Nabokov pulled after four goals – SBNation.com
  5. https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400462026 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders – Recap – May 11, 2013 – ESPN
  6. Web site: Flames acquire Poulin from Lightning . . 2015-11-12 . 2015-11-12.
  7. Web site: Пополнение на последнем рубеже "Барыса" . 2016-10-27 . 2017-01-09.
  8. Web site: Renewed Triumph for Team Canada Spengler Cup. www.spenglercup.ch. 2017-12-31. January 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180101030242/https://www.spenglercup.ch/en/news/renewed-triumph-team-canada. dead.
  9. Web site: Kevin Poulin zum EHC Kloten. January 15, 2018. January 15, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180115184732/https://www.ehc-kloten.ch/feeds/rss/114-kevin-poulin-zum-ehc-kloten. dead.
  10. Web site: Poulin Signed to PTO . December 26, 2019 . December 26, 2019.
  11. Web site: IF Björklöven sign NHL experienced goaltender Poulin . . July 7, 2020 . July 7, 2020 . Swedish.
  12. Web site: Rocket sign Kevin Poulin to one-year contract . . . June 29, 2021 . June 29, 2021.
  13. Web site: Rocket agree to terms with Kevin Poulin on one-year contract . . July 19, 2022 . July 19, 2022.
  14. Web site: Hockey Canada announces men's olympic roster . . 2018-01-02 . 2018-01-02.
  15. Player Bio – Kevin Poulin . . 2011-02-03 . 2011-02-03.