Poturalski, 27, has tallied 34 points (12g, 22a) in 23 AHL games with the Wolves in 2021-22 and leads the league in assists and points and ranks tied for first in goals. He was named the AHL's Player of the Week on Monday after posting 10 points (3g, 7a) in three games last week, including back-to-back four-point outings on Dec. 9 and Dec. 11 (2g, 6a). The 5'10", 183-pound forward was previously selected as the league's Player of the Week on Nov. 1, and he was also named the AHL's Player of the Month for October after registering a league-high 14 points (5g, 9a) in six games during the opening month of the season. Last season, Poturalski earned 43 points (9g, 34a) in 44 AHL games with San Diego and won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the league's leader in points while also pacing the AHL in assists. He has now recorded 260 points (89g, 171a) in 322 career AHL games with Charlotte, San Diego and Chicago from 2016-21.
Poturalski is in his second stint with the Hurricanes, as he originally signed with Carolina as an undrafted free agent on March 8, 2016 and spent four seasons with the organization from 2016-19. He skated in two NHL games with Carolina, making his NHL/Hurricanes debut at Minnesota on April 4, 2017. Poturalski also earned 176 points (66g, 110a) in 238 AHL games with the Checkers and served as an alternate captain with Charlotte in 2018-19. He won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the MVP of the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2019, posting a league-best 23 points (12g, 11a) in 18 postseason games as the Checkers won their first AHL championship.
Prior to turning professional, the Williamsville, N.Y., native played two seasons of college hockey at New Hampshire from 2014-16, posting 81 points (36g, 45a) in 77 games. Poturalski was selected to the Hockey East First All-Star Team and named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in his final season with the Wildcats.
