Bruins announce return date for the rookie to the team
In an unexpected development, Matthew Poitras is poised to rejoin the Boston Bruins earlier than expected following Canada's unforeseen elimination from the IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden.
Canada suffered a crushing loss to Czechia in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, with Czechia's Jakub Stacl scoring the decisive goal just 11 seconds from the end, leading to a 3-2 win. Poitras, performing notably in the tournament, scored two goals and provided two assists, accumulating four points in five games. In the same vein, Macklin Celebrini of Boston University concluded the championship with a strong record of four goals and four assists, totaling eight points.
The Bruins had allowed Poitras to join the World Juniors, considering it a beneficial experience for the rookie to represent his country and hone his skills. Now, as he returns to the Bruins, it remains to be seen if the 19-year-old will play in Boston's next game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden this Thursday.
Addressing this matter, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said :
Nevertheless, the exact schedule for his return to the game is unclear due to these unexpected developments. Montgomery spoke to the media soon after Canada's defeat, providing insights into how Poitras will be assimilated back into the Bruins' roster. The coach faces tough choices, especially given the strong showing of the line comprising Trent Frederic, James van Riemsdyk, and Danton Heinen, as well as the recent promotion of Georgii Merkulov after his remarkable performance in the AHL. The composition of the Bruins' team is set for an interesting change with Poitras's swift comeback.
| POLL | ||
3 JANVIER | 282 ANSWERS Bruins announce return date for the rookie to the team Do you hope to see Poitras in the lineup as soon as possible? | ||
| Yes | 222 | 78.7 % |
| No | 60 | 21.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
