Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sam Poulin set to return after leave of absence for mental health reasons

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced the return of forward Sam Poulin Wednesday. He will report to the Penguins’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

Poulin left the club three months ago and opened up on his Instagram profile about the struggles of mental health and the decision to return, “Three months ago I made a decision to take a break from hockey and return home to take care of myself and my mental health. After seeking the help I needed, I am now ready to return to Wilkes-Barre to rejoin my team. I want to thank everyone who helped get me through this difficult time, including my family, my girlfriend, my friends, my medical team, the entire Pittsburgh Penguins organization, my teammates and the fans who showed unconditional love and support. I strongly encourage everyone to speak openly about mental health because it affects us all. For those who are struggling, please know that you are not alone.” 

Poulin was selected in the first round (No. 21) in the 2019 NHL Draft after registering 29 goals and 76 points in 67 games with the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Throughout his QMJHL career, he tallied 88 goals and 229 points in 192 games with the Sherbrooke Phoenix and Val-d’Or Foreurs.

Last season, he made his pro debut in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and registered 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 72 games. He finished the season second among the Penguins’ scoring leaders. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 25 versus the Calgary Flames and picked up his first NHL point. Following the brief stint, Poulin was sent down to the AHL and he played 13 games totalling four goals before taking a leave of absence.