With the offseason departures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the Bruins had difficult questions to answer regarding their lack of depth at the center position to start the 2023-2024 season. While the Bruins brought in some additional depth pieces in Morgan Geekie, Milan Lucic, and Jesper Boqvist, the lineup itself was still uncertain. Who would Bruins fans see step up and try to fill the gaps left by the retirement of the six-time Selke trophy winner in Bergeron and the playmaking talent of Krejci?
Insert Matthew Poitras, the 19-year-old, 5 ’11, centerman drafted 54th overall in 2022. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who was expecting him to crack a roster spot during the offseason, but his preseason performance quickly won over the fanbase and the Bruins front office. Throughout his five appearances, Poitras potted two assists and three goals, the most of any Bruin that recorded minutes this preseason. His spot secured on opening night came as no surprise to anyone who followed along during training camp, his talent and playmaking abilities evident every time he stepped on the ice. As the roster was finalized and lines started to form more concrete for opening night, there were many questions as to how his production in the preseason would translate to the grind of the regular season.
In his first game at the NHL level, a matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks and another wildly impressive rookie talent in Connor Bedard, Poitras held his own. Recording a secondary assist on a Trent Frederic goal to open the night, his first career point, Poitras showed immense poise and patience with the puck. While the Bruins overall were inconsistent on opening night and left a lot to be desired in their offensive production, Bruins fans have lots to be excited about in this team.
With his promotion to the second line, centering Brad Marchand and Morgan Geekie, fans will see even more of the young centerman’s talent with the energetic, veteran captain of the Boston Bruins. This 4-game road trip for the Bruins, which begins on October 19th, will give a unique challenge and opportunity to showcase his abilities in a top-six role. The 19-year-old will face more heavy-hitting matchups centering a line with Brad Marchand, which will be another important test for him in his bid to remain on the roster.
Poitras is currently within the nine-game trial period before the Bruins have to decide on whether or not he will stay with the club or return to the OHL with the Guelph Storm, and every moment on ice counts towards making that decision as difficult as possible for the Bruins’ front office. While it is impossible to completely replace the efforts of legendary players such as Bergeron and Krejci, Poitras is making a strong case for himself to remain on the roster for the remainder of the season. While comparing players can be on par with comparing apples to oranges, the Bruins have found a special talent in Poitras, and the fanbase is excited to see where the rest of this season goes for the young rookie.
The Bruins return to action on Thursday, October 19th, against the San Jose Sharks, with puck drop scheduled for 10:30 pm ET on ESPN+.
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I haven’t had a chance to watch any games yet, but am excited to tune in after this article!
Great Article.
Great read and I couldn’t agree more he looked great!