Bruins Might Have Their New Top Center Sooner Than Expected

Photo: NESN

The prospect pool for the Boston Bruins has been much maligned due to some poor drafting and a lack of high-level draft positioning. Therefore, General Manager Don Sweeney has had to entrust his advance scouting to hit on some lower-round draft picks to try and replenish the farm system. Drafts from 2017 and 2018 only have goaltender Jeremy Swayman and forwards Jakub Lauko and Curtis Hall to show for them. In 2019, the Bruins selected John Beecher, who is fighting for his first opportunity on the Bruins roster, as is 2020 second-round pick defenseman Mason Lohrei. But it is the drafts of 2021 and 2022 where the Bruins really need some top talent to develop. And one of those picks is turning heads in training camp already.

Related Article: Bruins 2016 Sixth-Round Draft Pick Possibly Getting His Final Chance

The 2022 NHL Draft saw the Bruins select center Matthew Poitras from the Guelph Storm with the 54th overall pick. The 5-foot-11, 173-pound forward was a playmaker who Elite Prospects characterized as a player who “pre-scans, establishes body positioning, escapes out the back door, and then looks inside for teammates. Doesn’t just make the most direct play; he’s selective and generally balances risk and reward well. Wins positioning by getting low, using heel-to-heel steps to change the point of contact, and changing pace on incoming pressure.” It might have been Poitras’ lack of size that had him slide down to being the 20th center chosen in the draft. But since his name was called that night, Poitras has shown that he was a first-round talent.

Poitras totaled 95 points and came within two assists of a franchise record with 79 with the Storm last season and registered six points in six playoff games. On May 5, 2023, the Bruins committed to Poitras financially with a new three-year, entry-level contract worth a salary cap hit of $870,000. The Ontario native is now climbing the prospect charts in Boston and is rivaling forward Fabian Lysell and Lohrei for top honors in the organization.

Related Article: Bruins 2019 First Round Pick Showing His Value

On Sunday night, in Poitras’ first taste of pro action, the skilled center scored the first goal of the game on the power play and showed some of the unique talents that he could bring to the lineup in the absence of the retired Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. The Bruins need Poitras to be a top-six center in the league, and all signs are pointing to that being a reality. Poitras finished with a goal and an assist in the 3-0 win over New York and won more than half of his faceoffs. Now the Bruins might have a difficult decision to make. It was almost a foregone conclusion that Poitras was headed back to Guelph after camp as he could not suit up for Providence of the American Hockey League. But the right-shot forward could play for Boston and fill a much-needed role as a center for the Bruins.

Poitras will have the night off Tuesday as the Bruins face the Buffalo Sabres but should see more action in the third preseason game. If all goes well, maybe Boston should just give the kid a chance out of camp to play for the parent club and expedite the development of their top young center.

Season 4. Episode 28. A Major Announcement Bruins Benders Podcast

 Join the Bruins Benders Podcast as they cover the HOTTEST topics in the Boston Bruins market, along with…- A Major Announcement- Mitch Marner Rumors?- End of Season Award Predictions- Are the Kids Alright?& Much More!Bruins Benders Premium Hoodies $55https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/get-bent-premium-hoodieBruins Benders Long Sleeve Tee $40https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-long-sleeve-tee-1Bruins Benders Tee $30https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-t-shirt-1For more from us, visit: insidetherink.com/bruins-bendersBoston Bruins Trade Rumors, Boston Bruins News, Boston Bruins, Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Nikita Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke, Parker Wotherspoon, Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, Justin Brazeau, Cole Koepke, Trent Frederic, Matthew Poitras, Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Oliver Wahlstrom, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Joe Sacco, Don Sweeney, Cam Neely, Brandon Carlo Trade#nhl #nhlbruins #hockey #bostonbruins #nhlplayoffs #bruins #nhlhockey #nhlmemes #boston #nhlallstar #nhldiscussion #nhlnews #nhledits #nhldraft #bruinsnation #nhlawards #nhltrade #hockeylife #tdgarden #nhlhighlights #bostonsports #bruinshockey #bruinsfan #nhlblackhawks #nhlglobalseries #nhlfi #nhlleafs #nhltrades #nhltradedeadline #nhlcanadiens #nhl #nhlnews #hockey #nhlhockey #nhlplayoffs #nhledits #nhldiscussion #nhlmemes #nhldraft #nhlallstar #hockeylife #hockeynews #hockeymemes #nhlhighlights #icehockey #sports #hockeyislife #nhlbruins #hockeyplayers #hockeyfan #hockeyplayer #hockeyedits #stanleycup #nhlawards #hockeygame #hockeyboys #hockeygram #hockeyfights #nhltrade #nhltrades 
  1. Season 4. Episode 28. A Major Announcement
  2. Season 4. Episode 27. Losing, It's Called Bruins.
  3. Season 4. Episode 26. Is Swayman a Diva?
  4. Season 4. Episode 25. It's Not a Retool
  5. Season 4. Episode 24. Franchise Altering Deadline

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3 thoughts on “Bruins Might Have Their New Top Center Sooner Than Expected

  1. Last time I think that happened to a prospect where either send to juniors or keep him was Bergeron . Nothing to lose if the kid keeps improving. Nice surprise and shot in arm Bruins would need .

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