Remi Poirier was claimed off NHL waivers by the Dallas Stars, a move reported by Complete Hockey News that directly impacts the Montreal Canadiens as roster decisions loom across the league.
The 25-year-old goaltender from Farnham was originally drafted by Dallas in the sixth round, 185th overall, in 2020. Having yet to appear in a regular-season NHL game, Poirier drew a claim from the Stars, who hold a 10-5-2 record and sit second in the Central Division after winning seven of their last ten games.
Complete Hockey News noted that Washington was not the team that originally placed a claim for Poirier, meaning Dallas must place him back on waivers before assigning him to the Texas Stars.
The Canadiens face a difficult puzzle with their own crease. Samuel Montembeault has appeared in 233 career NHL games and is currently sidelined with a lower-body injury expected to keep him out until at least November 10. Darren Dreger confirmed that teams have inquired with Montreal about Montembeault, while noting the club aims to handle the situation carefully if prospects like Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler establish themselves.
RÉMI’S BAAAAAACK 🚨 We have claimed goaltender Rémi Poirier off of waivers. pic.twitter.com/XbL8AiTIhG
If a goaltender with zero NHL experience like Poirier commands a waiver claim, management recognizes that Montembeault would not clear untouched.
General manager Kent Hughes cannot risk exposing Montembeault to waivers, where losing him for nothing would be the worst possible outcome for a team currently sitting second in the Atlantic Division with 25 points and an 11-3-3 record. Any movement involving Montembeault would require a trade, with the New York Rangers previously mentioned as a potential destination.
Elsewhere on the ice, roster adjustments are unfolding across multiple organizations. The New York Islanders split up rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer and Logan Stanley on the blue line in San Jose. The New York Rangers are reportedly considering scratching two players ahead of their matchup in Edmonton.
Alexander Wennberg returns to the San Jose Sharks lineup against the Islanders, and the Ottawa Senators hold the top priority to claim defenseman Cameron Crotty after the Minnesota Wild placed him on waivers.
The Dallas Stars claim Remi Poirier off waivers#TexasHockey
