Pouliot shipping off to Boston next season

Benoit Pouliot, the 24-year-old Alfred native who played with the NHL's Montreal Canadiens for the last two seasons, will not be returning for a third season with the team.

Pouliot was one of five Canadiens players who did not receive a qualifying offer from the organization last week, meaning all have become unrestricted free agents.

On Friday, July 1, the Boston Bruins signed Pouliot to a one-year, $1.1-million contract.

"He's maybe someone who's underachieved," Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli told Boston media. "He's got a real good skill package and a size package. He has to be pushed. We have a strong group that can push him."

The Canadiens had to qualify Pouliot at his most recent salary of $1.35 million, but had not extended any offers as of early last week. As an unrestricted free agent, the Canadiens could have negotiated a new contract with him, however sports commentators expressed doubt about that possibility due to Pouliot's lack of play toward the end of last season.

Head coach Jacques Martin made the decision to bench the player during four of the seven playoff games in April. Pouliot had played on the team's top two lines during the season, but scored only 13 goals and 17 assists in 79 games. It was a mark change from the 15 goals and nine assists that he racked up in 39 games during his first season in Montreal, in 2009-10.

Other sports commentators have been quick to point out that it might be too early to disregard Pouliot, as he was the 2005 draft's fourth-overall pick.