Ryan Poehling (; born January 3, 1999) is an American professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
center
Center or centre may refer to:
Mathematics
*Center (geometry), the middle of an object
* Center (algebra), used in various contexts
** Center (group theory)
** Center (ring theory)
* Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...
currently playing for
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...
in the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
(NHL). Poehling was drafted 25th overall by the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
in the
2017 NHL Entry Draft
The 2017 NHL Entry Draft was the 55th NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held on June 23–24, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The first three selections were Nico Hischier going to the New Jersey Devils, Nolan Patrick going to the ...
.
Playing career
Amateur
After playing two seasons at
Lakeville North High School
Lakeville North High School (LNHS) is a public high school in northern Lakeville, Minnesota, United States. Formerly Lakeville High School, LNHS received its current name when a second high school, Lakeville South High School, was built. Grades ...
, Poehling was drafted first overall by the
Lincoln Stars
The Lincoln Stars are a Tier I junior ice hockey team playing in the United States Hockey League (USHL). The Stars' home ice is the Ice Box on the former Nebraska State Fair grounds and adjacent to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
History
...
in the 2015
USHL
The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the midwestern United States, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. The USHL is strictly ...
Draft. He joined the Stars during the 2015–16 season after his high school season was over. In May 2016, Poehling announced he had graduated high school early and signed with
St. Cloud State University for the 2016–17 season. He stated that part of his decision was due to his brothers committing to St. Cloud as well.
In his freshman season at St. Cloud, Poehling played in 35 games and recorded 13 points.
He was also named to the 2016–17 NCHC Academic All–Conference Team alongside his brothers. Poehling was drafted in the first round, twenty-fifth overall, by the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
in the
2017 NHL Entry Draft
The 2017 NHL Entry Draft was the 55th NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held on June 23–24, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The first three selections were Nico Hischier going to the New Jersey Devils, Nolan Patrick going to the ...
. Poehling went on and had a successful sophomore year with St. Cloud State. He notched 31 points in 36 games and helped his team win the regular season in the NCHC. Poehling scored the game-winning goal in a 4–2 win over the
Denver Pioneers
The Denver Pioneers are the sports teams of the University of Denver (DU). They play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. Denver is a member of The Summit League for men's and women's basketball, swimming and diving ...
to help St. Cloud win the Penrose Cup as regular season champions.
Poehling participated in the Canadiens 2018 Development Camp prior to the
2018–19 season, however, he chose to return to St. Cloud State for his Junior year to try to win the national championship.
Professional
Montreal Canadiens
On March 31, 2019, Poehling signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens, joining the team for the remainder of the season. During his NHL debut in Montreal's season-closing game against the
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...
on April 6, 2019, Poehling scored a
hat trick
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
, the first Canadiens player to achieve this feat since
Alex Smart
Alexander Smart (May 29, 1918 – April 18, 2005) was a Canadian ice hockey forward. He played one season for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League and spent the majority of his career in the Quebec Senior Hockey League.
Playing ...
on January 14, 1943. This was then followed by a goal in the
shootout
A shootout, also called a firefight or gunfight, is a fight between armed combatants using firearms. The term can be used to describe any such fight, though it is typically used to describe those that do not involve military forces or only invo ...
, winning the game for the Canadiens.
Poehling split the season with the Canadiens and their
AHL affiliate, the
Laval Rocket
The Laval Rocket (french: Rocket de Laval) are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) as an affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Montreal Canadiens. Based in Laval, Quebec, Canada, the Rocket play th ...
. Poehling was unable to replicate the success he found in his first game, scoring a single goal and assist each in 27 NHL games; his first AHL stint was also unremarkable, scoring 13 points in 36 games with the Rocket before the season was canceled due to complications of the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
.
While Poehling remained unable to secure a spot in the Canadiens' lineup, he improved considerably in , spending the season with the Rocket and scoring 25 points in 28 games. His season was cut short, as on May 6, 2021, the Canadiens announced Poehling suffered a season-ending wrist injury which required surgery. He was unable to join the team as they went to the
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media, french: Finale de la Coupe Stanley) is the National Hockey League's (NHL) championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, North America ...
, where they were defeated by the
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. They play th ...
.
[
As a restricted free agent with the Canadiens, Poehling was signed to a two-year contract extension, with the final year of his deal on a one-way basis on August 27, 2021. On the heels of a successful season in the AHL, there were expectations that Poehling would make the Canadiens lineup in one of the centre positions vacated following the off-season departures of ]Phillip Danault
Phillip Danault (born February 24, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey center and an alternate captain for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 26th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL En ...
and Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (; born 6 July 2000) is a Finnish professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted third overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Entry D ...
. However, Poehling's performance in the pre-season was judged to be underwhelming by many. He was sent down to the AHL again on October 13, shortly after the Canadiens claimed centreman Adam Brooks from the Maple Leafs off waivers. After seven games with the Rocket, Poehling was called up by the Canadiens, who were plagued by injuries amidst a historically poor start. Poehling's play in this new stint in the roster attracted praise, notably managing a two-goal performance in a victory over the Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators (commonly referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and ha ...
.
Pittsburgh Penguins
On July 16, 2022, Poehling was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...
, along with defenseman Jeff Petry
Jeffrey Petry ( ; born December 9, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round, 45th overall, at the 2006 NH ...
, in exchange for defenseman Mike Matheson
Michael Matheson (born February 27, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Matheson was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the first round, 23rd overall, of the 2 ...
and a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft
The 2023 NHL Entry Draft will be the 61st NHL Entry Draft. The draft is expected to be held on June 28–29, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Eligibility
Ice hockey players born between January 1, 2003, and September 15, 200 ...
.
International play
Poehling scored 3 points in the 2018 World Junior Championships to help Team USA win the bronze medal.
On December 24, 2018, Poehling was named to Team USA's roster for the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
Nineteen or 19 may refer to:
* 19 (number), the natural number following 18 and preceding 20
* one of the years 19 BC, AD 19, 1919, 2019
Films
* ''19'' (film), a 2001 Japanese film
* ''Nineteen'' (film), a 1987 science fiction film
Music ...
. Poehling scored a natural hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick is the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three.
Origin
The term first appeared in 1858 in cricket, to describe H. H. Stephenson taking three wic ...
and one assist on December 30, 2018 against Team Sweden to help close a 4–0 gap and lead the game to overtime. While Team USA lost to Team Finland 2–3 in the gold medal round, Poehling was named the tournament MVP and best forward. He ended the tournament with eight points (5G, 3A) in six games.
Personal life
Poehling has two older twin brothers, Nick and Jack, who also play hockey. His uncle Stan Palmer played hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth
The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is a public university in Duluth, Minnesota. It is part of the University of Minnesota system and offers 16 bachelor's degrees in 88 majors, graduate programs in 25 different fields, and a two-year progr ...
and was drafted 177th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
Awards and honors
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poehling, Ryan
1999 births
American men's ice hockey centers
Laval Rocket players
Lincoln Stars players
Living people
Ice hockey players from Minnesota
People from Lakeville, Minnesota
Montreal Canadiens draft picks
Montreal Canadiens players
National Hockey League first-round draft picks
Pittsburgh Penguins players
St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey players