The Calgary Flames have made a move to shake up their AHL blue line, trading long-time Calgary Wranglers defenseman Jeremie Poirier to the Dallas Stars in exchange for right-shot blueliner Gavin White. It’s a one-for-one swap of 23-year-old defensemen, both looking for a fresh start and a clearer path forward in their respective careers.
Let’s start with Poirier - a name that’s become familiar to Wranglers fans over the past few seasons. Drafted 72nd overall by the Flames in 2020, Poirier has spent his entire pro career within the organization, suiting up for 198 games with the Wranglers.
He wasn’t just a regular - he became a foundational piece of the team’s early identity. He scored the first goal in Wranglers franchise history and carved out a spot in the record books, sitting third all-time in games played, fourth in total points, and currently holding the franchise lead in assists with 84.
That’s no small feat for a defenseman.
But Poirier’s trajectory was disrupted in a big way during the 2023-24 season, when a serious skate laceration to his arm sidelined him for a significant stretch. It was a tough setback, and while he fought his way back and even posted career-best numbers the following year, this season has been a different story.
With only one goal and five assists through 35 games, Poirier has struggled to find consistent ice time. Younger prospects are starting to leapfrog him on the depth chart, and it’s clear the opportunity he once had in Calgary was beginning to fade.
A change of scenery might be exactly what he needs to reset and reignite his career.
Coming the other way is Gavin White, another 23-year-old defenseman with a solid junior pedigree and a pro game still under construction. White was drafted by the Stars in 2022 and has played 118 AHL games, tallying five goals and 27 assists. He also had a short stint in the ECHL last season with the Idaho Steelheads, where he picked up a goal in three games.
White’s current season mirrors Poirier’s in some ways - he’s appeared in 23 of the Stars’ 43 games, suggesting he too has been in and out of the lineup. But there’s reason to believe the Wranglers see untapped potential.
White was part of back-to-back OHL championship teams with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2021-22 and the Peterborough Petes in 2022-23. His best junior season came with Hamilton, where he put up 10 goals and 46 assists in 66 games - numbers that hint at offensive upside if he can find the right fit.
The Flames have already confirmed that White will join the Wranglers roster, though with a quick turnaround before Tuesday’s game against the Bakersfield Condors, it’s unlikely he’ll make his debut that night. More realistically, fans can expect to see him in action this weekend when the Wranglers host the Tucson Roadrunners. He wore No. 8 with the Texas Stars, and that number is currently available in Calgary - something to keep an eye on when he hits the ice.
This is a classic midseason AHL move - two players with similar profiles, both needing a reset, swapped in hopes that a new environment can unlock the next phase of their development. For Poirier, it’s a chance to re-establish himself in a new organization after giving a lot to the Wranglers. For White, it’s an opportunity to take the next step in a system that might offer more ice time and a clearer role.
Sometimes, all it takes is a new jersey to bring back the old spark.