Patrick Poulin is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. Poulin was born on December 12, 1973, in Vanier, Quebec, Canada. He began his hockey career playing for the Hull Olympiques in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 1990. Poulin was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, 20th overall.
Poulin made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks during the 1991-92 season. He played in 64 games and scored 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points. Poulin quickly established himself as a reliable forward who could contribute offensively and defensively. He played for the Blackhawks for four seasons, from 1991 to 1995.
In 1995, Poulin was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played for the Lightning for two seasons, from 1995 to 1997. During his time with the Lightning, Poulin continued to be a consistent performer, scoring 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points in the 1996-97 season.
In 1997, Poulin was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. He played for the Canadiens for three seasons, from 1997 to 2000. Poulin was a key player for the Canadiens during his time with the team, scoring 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points in the 1998-99 season.
After leaving the Canadiens, Poulin played for several teams in the NHL, including the Los Angeles Kings, the Boston Bruins, and the Phoenix Coyotes. He also played for teams in Europe, including HC Davos in Switzerland and HC Bolzano in Italy.
Poulin retired from professional hockey in 2006. In his NHL career, he played in 634 games and scored 139 goals and 164 assists for 303 points. Poulin was known for his versatility and his ability to play both center and wing positions. He was also a strong defensive player who was often used on penalty-killing units.
In addition to his NHL career, Poulin also represented Canada in international competition. He played for Canada at the 1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he helped the team win a gold medal. Poulin also played for Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
After retiring from hockey, Poulin worked as a hockey analyst for various media outlets, including RDS and TSN. He also worked as a coach, serving as an assistant coach for the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques from 2008 to 2010.
Overall, Patrick Poulin had a successful career as a professional hockey player. He was a consistent performer who was known for his versatility and his strong defensive play. Poulin also represented Canada in international competition and had a successful career as a hockey analyst and coach after retiring from playing.
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