Bruins’ Matthew Poitras expectations for year 2 – Hockey Writers – Boston Bruins
It’s come and gone at the speed of light, but the NHL offseason moves quickly. With the NHL Draft wrapped up and the frenzy of free agency over, the countdown to October continues. The Boston Bruins made headlines this offseason and made a big splash in many ways.
General manager Don Sweeney’s first order of business was parting ways with Vezina goaltender Linus Ullmark. He was able to move back into the first round this past draft and select 6-foot-7 center Dean Letourneau. With no center depth in the pipe this was a very good thing. Also, Sweeney made big splashes in free agency by signing Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov to long-term deals. However, the team lost Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen in free agency, leaving a vacant right wing spot on the second line. That leads us to development camp, which is underway at the Warrior Ice Arena.
Sweeney has already shied away from the fact that the vacant spot in the second row will be taken. You can expect guys like Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell to seize this opportunity if they have the same attitude that Charlie Coyle had in the 2023-24 season. The two young players are not the only ones to watch out for. Center Matthew Poitras will be a key player for the Bruins heading into the 2024-25 season and looks set to return rejuvenated.
Reflections on Poitras’ Rookie Season
One of the most exciting surprises of the 2023-24 season was the emergence of Poitras. He was a player entering his second camp with the team. The 2022 second round pick came in with the right attitude and attitude and did everything in his power to get the coaches to keep him around. It’s either the Bruins or he goes back to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Bruins made the right call by keeping him in the fold.
Related: Zadorov & Lindholm Provide Bruins Needed Depth
Poitras was a breath of fresh air, as he was the perfect injection of youth into the lineup. He plays with great speed and poise, and shines with the puck on his stick. He is a good player and has shown all the tools in his toolbox that were worth keeping him around. Also, he made an impact with his game and gave the Bruins depth on the roster.
Poitras finished the regular season with five goals and 15 points in 33 games. He got off to a hot start, scoring five goals and 11 points in his first two months of playing. Also, it took just five games into the season for him to score his first NHL goal.
It’s not just productivity and sustained impact that makes Poitras special. His contributions while on the ice were remarkable. In five out of five games, he finished with Corsi at 49.94%, which was the most Bruins center who logged more than 100 minutes on the ice. Also, the Bruins held the edge in shots on goal and had a good goal differential with him there. That’s clear, as Poitras tallied 18.33 expected goals for (xGF) and finished with an expected goals for (xGF%) percentage of 54.31. The puck possession was on their side and the results showed with him on the ice. He was a great asset to the team and was greatly missed when he was injured.
What to Expect in Year Two
After what was a promising start to his young career, the injury was widely reported. On Dec. 9, 2023, Poitras had a big hit in a game against the Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Hockey Club). Ultimately, that hit ended his season and he underwent shoulder surgery.
Poitras touched on that song and how his season ended, saying, “I needed to wear a size smaller,” Poitras said of his season’s priorities. “I came to the camp last year with nothing. There were some big boys that I couldn’t handle that much.”
Sometimes it’s like that with young players and it’s not the first time that a young man enters the league at a young age. However, Poitras has had his shoulder repaired and is skating at Development Camp. While doing rehab, he added about eight or nine pounds of muscle and weight to his petite frame. That’s good news, as he looks solid on his skates as he goes to puck battles. Puck possession was a strong part of his game and made him valuable last season. He’s not a player who’s going to play heavy foreskin and be a fourth grade mill type. However, adding that size could benefit him when he gets into corners and puck battles at the wall.
Touching on what the extra size has done for her, Poitras feels empowered. He has goals in mind and what he can do to elevate his game. He continued, “I feel strong. … I want to be able to win those one-on-one battles because I’m a guy who likes to have the puck up in the zone.”
It’s comforting to hear that and the confidence to see from such a young player. He will also look to improve in the faceoff circle, doing better than the 47.6% success rate he had in the 2023-24 season. This is also an area where the Bruins have struggled overall, especially during the playoff run. Even with the addition of Lindholm, a strong second season from Poitras will go a long way for the Bruins to have more success.
Poitras Makes Bruins Strong
All eyes will be on the young boys this summer. With space open for the wing and Poitras, it will be great to see them all take the next steps in their development. He seems to have a growing confidence in himself and always has the right attitude. He is always full of smiles and is a great presence to have on the roster.
Poitras is likely to be tasked with centering the third line with Trent Frederic and Morgan Geekie as his wings. If he can elevate his game and bring the same impactful presence this season, the Bruins will be much deeper overall and down the middle of the ice. The second year for Poitras will be special.
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