Washington Acquires Goaltender Rémi Poirier from New Jersey in Seventh-Round Pick Deal
The Washington Capitals have traded for goaltender Rémi Poirier from the New Jersey Devils, sending a 2027 seventh-round draft pick in return. Poirier, who was claimed off waivers in September but never played a game for New Jersey, spent last season as the AHL Texas Stars' starter with strong regular-season numbers. The trade adds $850,000 to Washington’s cap, and the Devils were required to offer him to other teams before trading him.
The Washington Capitals acquired goaltender Rémi Poirier from the New Jersey Devils on November 1, 2026, in exchange for a 2027 seventh-round NHL Draft pick. Poirier, 25, was claimed off waivers by the Devils on September 27, 2026, but never played a game for them after Connor Hellebuyck’s arrival from the Winnipeg Jets solidified their NHL goaltending depth. The trade added $850,000 to Washington’s salary cap, reflecting his two-way contract with a $850,000 NHL salary and $135,000 AHL amount. Poirier spent the 2025–26 season as the starting goaltender for the AHL Texas Stars, posting a 27-19-6 record with a 2.61 GAA, .912 save percentage, and two shutouts in 52 games—second in league wins. His playoff performance was less effective, going 2-3 with a .883 save percentage in five Calder Cup appearances. The Devils were required to offer Poirier to other teams before trading him due to his waiver claim status; no other team reportedly claimed him, suggesting limited perceived value at the time.
Poirier now joins Washington’s goaltending depth behind Logan Thompson, Charlie Lindgren, and Mitch Gibson, filling the void left by Clay Stevenson’s waiver move to Winnipeg. He remains on Washington’s roster but has yet to appear in an NHL game. His next step depends on clearing waivers before being assigned to AHL Hershey. The trade reflects a low-risk, high-reward organizational move: acquiring a proven AHL starter at minimal cap cost and with no immediate NHL expectations. What re
This trade underscores how NHL teams use low-cost, low-risk moves to bolster organizational depth without disrupting core rosters. Poirier’s acquisition exemplifies the league’s reliance on AHL pipelines and waiver claims as tools for player development and cap management. While the financial impact is modest—$850,000 added to the cap—it reflects a broader trend where teams prioritize flexibility over immediate NHL impact. Comparable cases include the 2023 trade of Linus Ullmark from Boston to Ottawa, which similarly involved a veteran goalie with strong AHL credentials but limited NHL opportunity at the time. Such moves may influence how smaller-market or rebuilding teams approach roster construction, potentially increasing competition for AHL talent and affecting player valuation in trades. The real impact lies not in Poirier’s individual performance, but in how such deals shape organizational depth and long-term planning across the league. What to watch for: whether Washington uses