It has come and gone at the speed of light, but the NHL’s offseason is moving quickly. With the NHL Draft and the free agency frenzy over, the countdown to October has begun. This offseason, the Boston Bruins made headlines and big splashes in a variety of ways.
The first order of business for general manager Don Sweeney was to break ways with Vezina goalkeeper Linus Ullmark. This previous round, he made it back into the first round by selecting 6-foot-7 center Dean Letourneau. Given the dearth of center depth in the pipeline, this was an excellent pick. Sweeney also made significant moves in free agency, signing Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov to long-term contracts. However, the team lost Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen to free agency, leaving a vacancy on the right wing of the second line. That brings us to Development Camp, which is presently underway at Warrior Ice Arena.
Sweeney has already hinted that the vacant second-line berth will be up for grabs. You may expect Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell to embrace the opportunity if they adopt the same mindset that Charlie Coyle did into the 2023-24 season. However, those aren’t the only two promising young players to keep an eye on. Center Matthew Poitras will be a key contributor for the Bruins in the 2024-25 season, as he aims to return revitalized.
Reflecting on Poitras’s Rookie Season
One of the most pleasant surprises of the 2023-24 season was the emergence of Poitras. He was a player entering his second training camp with the team. The 2022 second-round pick came in with the right approach and attitude, and he did everything he could to convince the coaches to keep him. It was either the Bruins or returning to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Bruins made the right decision by keeping him on board.
Poitras was a breath of fresh air, as he provided the ideal injection of youth into the lineup. He moves quickly and gracefully, and he is particularly skilled with the puck on his stick. He is a good playmaker who shown all of the abilities in his toolkit that justify keeping him around. He also made an impact with his game and provided the Bruins with additional depth in their lineup.
Matthew Poitras does it again.
Nice shift all around from this line, including Trent Frederic.
2-1 Bruins.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 6, 2023
Poitras ended the regular season with five goals and 15 points in 33 games. He got off to a fast start, scoring five goals and 11 points in the first two months of play. Also, he scored his first NHL goal just five games into the season.
Poitras was distinguished by more than only its production and long-lasting impact. His impacts on the ice were remarkable. At five-on-five play, he finished with a Corsi for percentage of 49.94%, which was the most among centers on the Bruins that logged more than 100 minutes of time on ice. In addition, while him on the ice, the Bruins outshot the opposition and had a positive goal difference. That matches up, as Poitras accounted for 18.33 expected goals for (xGF) and finished with an expected goals for percentage (xGF%) of 54.31. Puck possession was on their side and the effects were clear with him on the ice. He was a terrific contributor to the squad and was sadly missed when he had his injury.
What To Expect In Year Two
After what was a great start to his young career, it became detailed with an injury. On Dec. 9, 2023, Poitras received a huge hit in the game against the Arizona Coyotes (now Utah Hockey Club). Ultimately, that hit ruined his season and he required shoulder surgery.
Poitras spoke on that hit and how it ruined his season adding, “I needed to put on a bit of size,” Poitras stated of his offseason intentions. “I came into camp last year definitely undersized. There were some bigger people that maybe I couldn’t hold my own against as much.”
Sometimes that’s the case with smaller players and it’s not the first time a guy has come into the league a touch undersized. However, Poitras has had his shoulder rehabilitated and is now skating at Development Camp. While in rehab, he gained approximately eight or nine pounds of muscle and mass to his smaller frame. That’s good news, as he appears to be stronger on skates as he engages in puck battles. Puck possession was a strong aspect of his game that made him valuable last season. He is not the type of player who will forecheck aggressively and be a bruising fourth-line grinder. However, having that size can help him when he goes into the corners and competes for pucks along the wall.
Poitras believes that his increased size has made him stronger. He has goals in mind and knows what he can do to improve his game. He added, “I feel a bit stronger.” I want to be able to win one-on-one battles because I enjoy having the puck up in the zone.”
That’s encouraging to hear, as is the confidence displayed by such a young player. He will also look to improve his faceoff success rate, which was 47.6% during the 2023-24 season. This was also an area where the Bruins struggled as a team, particularly during their playoff run. Even with Lindholm, a strong second season from Poitras will go a long way toward the Bruins’ continued success.
Poitras makes the Bruins stronger.
All eyes will be on the young guys this summer. With the vacant spot open on the wing position 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 in the lineup.
