Speaking on Daily Faceoff Live, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period experiences that the Chicago Blackhawks are buying defenseman Derrick Pouliot from the New York Rangers. Pouliot has spent all the 2025-26 marketing campaign with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Scott Power of The Athletic reported that ahead Aidan Thompson will head to New York.
Pouliot is almost completely an AHL expertise at this level in his profession. Since the 2019-20 season, Pouliot has tallied six assists in 26 NHL contests, averaging 14:45 of ice time cut up between the St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars.
Still, he’s been a secure top-four presence within the AHL all through that stretch. Since becoming a member of the Stars group forward of the 2023-24 marketing campaign, Pouliot has registered 18 targets and 127 factors in 186 video games.
Despite being a rebuilding membership for the final a number of years, the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs don’t have that type of stability on the blue line. Prospect Kevin Korchinski is the group’s main scorer amongst defensemen with two targets and 23 factors in 45 video games. Pouliot will instantly develop into the group’s offensive chief on the blue line, regardless of enjoying in seven extra video games than Korchinski.
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that Pouliot will take pleasure in a visit via the Calder Cup playoffs with the IceHogs. The group is on the skin trying in with a 19-31-2-2 document. They’re presently ranked sixth within the AHL’s Central Division. They must discover their manner into the highest 5 of the division to qualify for the postseason.
Meanwhile, shortly earlier than the commerce was made official, the Blackhawks recalled Thompson from the AHL, so he’ll presumably be part of the Rangers’ NHL roster. He is in his first full skilled season, scoring six targets and 15 factors in 40 video games.
Still, he’s not that far faraway from being a standout ahead for the University of Denver. From 2022 to 2025, Thompson scored 42 targets and 117 factors in 120 video games for the Pioneers. He was drafted with the ninetieth total choose of the 2022 NHL Draft, making this a top quality return for the Rangers.
