Poirier has been nothing short of outstanding in his freshman year at Maine, posting 18 goals and 29 points in 27 games with a clearly defined role as the team’s primary offensive weapon. At 19, those numbers – more than three shots per game and top power play production – are genuinely exciting. The forechecking game that defined his QMJHL career remains a highlight and should resonate with Rod Brind’Amour, who values the kind of playstyle Poirier brings every night. Size is the only question mark at 5-9, but Carolina has historically been willing to overlook that for players who conform to their system, and Poirier’s combination of pace, tenacity, and finishing ability checks every other box. One of the more compelling Carolina prospect stories this year. A dynasty buy at 19 with top-six upside if the development arc continues.

Justin Poirier has decided to try out the NCAA route, committing to the University of Maine in Hockey East. After spending the past three seasons with Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the QMJHL, gathering 144 goals and 102 assists for 246 points in just 207 games, he has decided to head to Maine. A noted sniper who plays a much more physical style than other players of his size, being 5-9 and 163 pounds, he looks to become a trigger man for the Black Bears, potentially in a similar role that former Maine forward and current Carolina Hurricanes prospect, Bradly Nadeau, played in.

The only player the Carolina Hurricanes took from North America, Justin Poirier, is a pure sniper. The size could be a genuine issue in the future, but you cannot deny that Poirier has an NHL-level shot. It’s also important to mention that Poirier uses his size incredibly well, using it on the forecheck and bending around players with the puck on his stick to make space for his lethal shot. Compete needs to keep coming along, but Poirier has a ton of intrigue.

Justin Poirier is quickly becoming the most intriguing prospect coming out of the QMJHL this season, leading the way in goals (51 regular season and 10 in the playoffs). He has an elite shot and rarely backs away from physicality in the corners or front of the net. Poirier has improved in his playmaking abilities by using the middle of the ice more to open up lanes for himself. Poirier has enough pace to keep up with better players and can score in a multitude of way,s which is the most translatable element of his game. As he matures, his defensive game should improve, and his hockey sense will allow him to grasp concepts at the pro level. Poirier could be a sneaky gamble for teams looking for secondary scoring threats in the second round.

April Ranking: 41st