Anthony Poulin is joining the Trois-Rivières Lions for the 2025-26 season, reinforcing the ECHL squad as an important step in the Canadiens’ development chain via Laval. After a five-game stint in France with Gap, where he notched 3 points, Poulin returned to North America, having previously skated for Laval and spent four seasons with the Ottawa Gee-Gees. His path also includes time with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Victoriaville Tigres in major junior hockey, signaling a versatile, multi-league forward with potential to rise within the Canadiens organization.

Ryan Francis is back with the Atlanta Gladiators for the 2025-26 season after posting 19 points (13 goals, 6 assists) in 36 games following a March trade from Adirondack Thunder. The Halifax native, selected by Calgary in the fifth round in 2020, brings a blend of AHL/ECHL scoring that could unlock Atlanta’s offense as they chase more consistent production this year. His return anchors a young roster while the Gladiators look to leverage his speed and finishing touch for a stronger stretch run and potential rising prospects into higher leagues.

Francis’ resume spans Stockton Heat, Laval Rockets, and Ontario Reign in the AHL, plus stints with Trois-Rivieres, Greenville, Adirondack, and Atlanta in the ECHL, underscoring a versatile, goal-oriented forward with playoff-style mindset. While the Gladiators operate in the ECHL, his Flames drafting ties and pro pedigree offer an intriguing fantasy narrative: a player who could push for top-6 minutes and critical power-play time if he hits the ground running, enhancing deeper-league rosters and DFS lineups.

Keep an eye on ice-time shifts, line pairings, and the Gladiators’ special-teams deployment as Francis opens the season in a favorable offensive role. If he finds chemistry and gets PP opportunities, his ceiling rises quickly from a mid-season contributor to a sleeper scorer in fantasy formats that value ECHL-to-AHL progression and late-season surges.