All week leading up to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, we’ll be profiling top prospects who may hear their names called Friday in the first round. Nothing too in-depth. Just enough so you know who they are and what they’re about.
Derrick Pouliot (D)
Height: 5’11 Weight: 186 Shoots: Left
Team: Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Country: Canada
NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 12 among North American skaters
What kind of player is he?
A slick puck-moving defenseman that makes a good first pass and skates extremely well, he’s been compared to Brian Campbell. The Saskatchewan native racked up 59 points in 72 games on a loaded Winterhawks team that featured another highly touted d-man in Pittsburgh’s first-round pick from last year, Joe Morrow. Pouliot is slightly undersized and needs to bulk up some. He could also stand to improve his defensive game, so it’s highly unlikely he’ll be playing in the NHL right away.
Quotable:
“There are some very good defensemen in [the WHL]. He’s up there as an elite player in my view, and I know that different scouts have different views, but I feel comfortable in saying that Derrick is one of the top players at his position available in this draft.” -- Portland GM and head coach Mike Johnston
More draft profiles:
