Former Hockey Fan
Joined: Jun. 2017
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 10,516
I’d say AHL for a few reasons:
1. Once his season with St. Cloud State is over, the deadline for signing a contract and being elidgible for playing in the playoffs. I can’t see Poehling signing before his season is over, and I definitely can’t see the Habs giving him a spot just for a month, only for him not to be able to play in the playoffs.
2. Montreal is a relatively healthy team, compared to other teams that have signed their college players later in the year. They most likely won’t have the roster space.
3. If Poehling ended up playing more than 9 games in the NHL, he would become elidgible for the Seattle expansion draft, which just makes the Canadiens job all that harder when it comes to that.
4. I don’t think he’s necessarily ready for the NHL. There’s a big difference between playing in the NCAA and pro hockey, which I think Poehling will either need time in the AHL or pre-season to get adjusted. Especially because of the role he would be playing, which would go from top-line to most likely 4th line center.