Rangers Add Depth Defenseman Derrick Pouliot on Two-Way Contract
Once a top-10 pick, Derrick Pouliot joins the Rangers organization as steady AHL depth after a career year in Syracuse.
The Rangers made their third free agent signing of the day as they brought in another veteran depth player in Derrick Pouliot to bolster the Hartford Wolf Pack's blueline. The dea is a two-year, two-way contract for the league minimum $775,000 AAV.
The #NYR signed 31 y/o LD Derrick Pouliot to 2 year $775K Cap Hit Deal
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 2, 2025
Year 1 775K NHL, 400K Minors, 425K Guaranteed
Year 2 775/400/450
Rep'd by Rick Valette @OctagonHockey https://t.co/3r4N0lBuAD
A once-upon-a-time eighth overall draft pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012, Pouliot has become quite the journeyman. It's been half a decade since he played more than ten games in an NHL season, however he's been a consistent AHL player and is coming off a career-high 53 point season with the Syracuse Crunch.
A 6-1, 205 pound left-handed defensemen, Pouliot adds some depth to the Rangers' back end, essentially replacing the role Chad Ruhwedel and Ben Harpur played with the Rangers in recent years. Similar to Justin Dowling, he's best used in case of emergency and shouldn't be expected to see many, if any NHL games this year.
Pouliot is a good veteran to add to Hartford's arsenal for the next two seasons, especially with Connor Mackey entering the final year of his contract.
