Benoît Pouliot

Benoît Robert Pouliot (born September 29, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 12 seasons. He played in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres. Pouliot was originally drafted by the Wild fourth overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Amateur Pouliot grew up in St. Isidore, Ontario, playing minor ice hockey for his hometown St. Isidore Eagles, where he was coached by his father Sylvain. Pouliot was later promoted to the AA Eastern Ontario Cobras of the ODMHA where he played up until the Bantam age level. He played in the 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Eastern Ontario team. He also saw time in Jr.B. with Les Castors de Clarence Creek.

Pouliot was later drafted in the 11th round, 207th overall, by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Sudbury Wolves in the 2002 OHL Priority Selection after playing for the Cobras.

Pouliot scored his first two career NHL goals for Minnesota against Calgary Flames on March 22, 2008, though the Wild still lost the game, 5–4.

Pouliot later was placed on the 2008–09 roster at the beginning season. After scoring just 11 points in 37 games, Pouliot was later sent down to the AHL's Aeros. On November 23, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Guillaume Latendresse.

On July 1, 2011, Pouliot signed as a free agent with the Boston Bruins on a one-year, $1.1 million contract. On June 23, 2012, as a pending unrestricted free agent, Pouliot's rights were traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Michel Ouellet and a fifth- round draft pick (131st overall) used later that day at the 2012 NHL entry draft to select Seth Griffith. Two days later, Pouliot signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract extension with the Lightning.

On July 5, 2013, again as a free agent, Pouliot signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the New York Rangers.

After a successful season with the Rangers and looking for term after playing on three successive one-year deals, Pouliot agreed to a five-year, $20 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2014. During his first season with the Oilers in the 2014–15 season, Pouliot transitioned easily to the rebuilding club, increasing his scoring presence with 34 points in just 58 games. He was sidelined for 24 games however due to injury.

On July 1, 2017, Pouliot was promptly signed by the Buffalo Sabres as a free agent, to a one-year $1.15 million deal.

Personal Pouliot's younger brother, Hugo, played for the same Hawkesbury Hawks Jr.A. team that Benoît and their father both played with.

The day after Pouliot scored his first-ever OHL goal in February 2004, his father died from leukemia.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2002–03 Clarence Beavers EOJHL 38 13 17 30 86 5 0 2 2 8 2002–03 Hawkesbury Hawks CJHL 1 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 2003–04 Hawkesbury Hawks CJHL 45 21 21 42 85 6 3 7 10 10 2003–04 Sudbury Wolves OHL 4 2 2 4 0 4 2 1 3 0 2004–05 Sudbury Wolves OHL 67 29 36 65 102 12 6 8 14 20 2005–06 Sudbury Wolves OHL 51 35 30 65 141 8 8 3 11 16 2005–06 Houston Aeros AHL — — — — — 2 0 0 0 2 2006–07 Houston Aeros AHL 67 19 17 36 109 — — — — — 2006–07 Minnesota Wild NHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2007–08 Houston Aeros AHL 46 10 14 24 67 3 0 0 0 2 2007–08 Minnesota Wild NHL 11 2 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 2008–09 Minnesota Wild NHL 37 5 6 11 18 — — — — — 2008–09 Houston Aeros AHL 30 9 15 24 20 20 1 7 8 28 2009–10 Minnesota Wild NHL 14 2 2 4 12 — — — — — 2009–10 Montreal Canadiens NHL 39 15 9 24 31 18 0 2 2 6 2009–10 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 3 1 2 3 4 — — — — — 2010–11 Montreal Canadiens NHL 79 13 17 30 87 3 0 0 0 7 2011–12 Boston Bruins NHL 74 16 16 32 38 7 1 1 2 6 2012–13 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 34 8 12 20 15 — — — — — 2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 80 15 21 36 56 25 5 5 10 26 2014–15 Edmonton Oilers NHL 58 19 15 34 28 — — — — — 2015–16 Edmonton Oilers NHL 55 14 22 36 30 — — — — — 2016–17 Edmonton Oilers NHL 67 8 6 14 34 13 0 0 0 4 2017–18 Buffalo Sabres NHL 74 13 6 19 22 — — — — — AHL totals 146 39 48 87 200 25 1 7 8 32 NHL totals 625 130 133 263 371 67 6 8 14 49

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2006 Canada WJC 6 0 5 5 14 Junior totals 6 0 5 5 14

Awards and honours Award Year OHL First All-Rookie Team 2005 Second All-Star Team 2005 Emms Family Award 2005 CHL Rookie of the Year 2005