Former first-round pick Emile Poirier signs in KHL

In the 2013 draft, the Calgary Flames had three selections in the first round and a chance to really build a core for the organization. With the sixth pick, they hit, landing Sean Monahan, a franchise center and a staple of their first line for years to come. But the other two picks, Emile Poirier and Morgan Klimchuk weren’t quite as successful. The two have combined for just nine NHL games to this point (the two lowest totals of the entire round) and the former isn’t even playing in North America anymore.

Poirier, 26, spent this season with HC Kosice of the Slovakian league and has now signed a contract with Dinamo Riga in the KHL for the 2021-22 campaign. After spending several seasons in the Flames organization, the first-round pick went unqualified in 2018 and was forced to sign an AHL deal. Two relatively unsuccessful years with the Manitoba Moose later and he was off to Europe to see if he could get his career back on track.

He did find success in Slovakia, though, scoring 17 points in 18 games and adding another handful in the postseason. Moving to the KHL will test Poirier even further and perhaps give him a springboard for a return to North America if he can perform well in 2021-22. There is certainly plenty of time left for the 26-year-old to earn a new deal in the AHL or even perhaps turn himself into a depth option with a bit of bite. Poirier never was afraid to drop the gloves, with fighting majors in almost every year of his pro career. For at least 2021-22, he will ply his trade in the KHL.