With the No. 8 pick of the 2012 NHL Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins have selected Derrick Pouliot, a defenseman from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.
A native of Estevan, Saskatchewan, Pouliot was ranked No. 12 among all North American skaters by NHL central scouting, and ranked No. 17 overall by TSN. Pouliot could be labeled a potential power play quarterback, with a solid 48 assists during the 2011-12 Western Hockey League season. He also scored 11 goals, and finished second in scoring among Portland blueliners with 59 points. During his rookie season in 2010-11, Pouliot scored 30 points and notched 25 assists for Portland in 66 games.
He has competed for Canada at the 2011 Under-18 Ivan Hnlinka Memorial Tournament, winning a gold medal and adding three points. He also competed for Team West at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He also had three points during that tournament, all assists.