Sam Poulin is back in the NHL — and he believes he is ready to finally stick around.

After Ville Koivunen became their latest forward to suffer an injury, the Penguins recalled Poulin from their American Hockey League club Tuesday. The 24-year-old forward was on the ice for an optional practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

Poulin is “pumped” to be back in the NHL for the first since the end of last season.

“I was happy, honestly. My goal has been to play here, ever since I got drafted. So anytime that happens, it’s fun and it’s encouraging that the work you’ve put in was actually rewarded,” he said. “So, yeah, I was just really pumped to be back here.”

The former first-round draft pick was cut at the end of Pittsburgh’s training camp, but new coach Dan Muse said that he performed we

See Full Page