(Buffalo) Let’s understand: Alexis Bernier has very little perspective when he talks about Justin Poirier. “He’s probably my best friend on the team,” concedes the Baie-Comeau Drakkar defender.
This is why the little love Poirier receives from recruiters makes him react. Little love because he was ignored at the game of the best prospects in Canadian junior hockey in January, ignored at the NHL evaluation camp in Buffalo and ranked 82nd North American prospect by the circuit’s Central Scouting.
However, the 17-year-old athlete – one of the youngest prospects available this year since he was born on September 4, 11 days before the deadline – had an extraordinary campaign. During the season, he scored 51 goals, a QMJHL high, in 68 games. The last 17-year-old QMJHL player to reach 50? Sidney Crosby.
Knowing that a hockey match is won by the total number of goals scored, this is a convenient quality to possess.
This is why Alexis Bernier lost his temper when he was asked about Poirier’s absence from the evaluation camp.
“I find it boring for him. I don’t think he gets the recognition he deserves, argued Bernier on Saturday. I don’t need to say more: 51 goals in the season, 18 goals in the playoffs. He’s a scorer.
“No, he’s not the biggest, his defensive game might not be his strength, but he does a lot more than just score goals. He’s 5’7″, but he’s as strong as me. He skates, he has improved on the tucks. But I’m not worried about him and I’m sure a team will see something and choose him early in the draft. »
Let’s put it bluntly: Poirier is not the victim of a conspiracy. The list of invited players is determined based on the requests from the 32 teams and if Poirier was not there, it is because he was not one of the 100 most requested players. Two teams consulted also confirmed that they had not requested his presence in Buffalo. A recruiter points out, however, that the NHL collects votes several weeks in advance.
Which does not prevent regional recruiters from organizing to meet him, during the season or after.
An interesting tidbit: at 190 lbs by 5’7″, it’s quite possible that he is already, physically, a “finished” product. In other words, no one expects him to have a career at 210 lbs at this size, a reality that obviously simplifies projections. This is the complete opposite of the many “empty chocolates”, these players of good size, but not yet physically completed. Consider Oceanic defenseman Spencer Gill, at 6’3, but 183 lbs.
Failing to meet Poirier, the teams took advantage of the presence of his Drakkar teammates to obtain information. Alexis Bernier says he was asked “a lot” of questions about Poirier. “They asked me why he’s not here and how I find him. I just have good words, as a player and as a person. People don’t know it, but he’s a really good guy, funny. Guys love being around him. »
His situation is reminiscent of that of another QMJHL prospect, Jordan Dumais, two years ago. Like Poirier, Dumais is small and some recruiters had doubts about his overall game and his attitude.
Drafted in the third round in 2022 by Columbus, Dumais followed up with a 140-point season, but an injury and a drunk driving arrest derailed his 2023-24 campaign.
