The Bruins are faced with a major decision regarding their rookie
The Bruins have already faced several key choices regarding 19-year-old rookie center Matt Poitras this season. After an impressive preseason and training camp, they chose to extend his trial period to nine games. Subsequently, they decided to extend his stay, initiating his entry-level contract. Furthermore, they allowed him to participate in the World Junior Championships last month with Team Canada, adding to his array of new experiences this season.
In the upcoming weeks, another significant decision regarding Poitras looms: determining if he will complete the season in Boston, or if he might be returned to Guelph in the Ontario Hockey League at some stage.
Poitras has not registered any points in his most recent five games, and he has only managed to score one goal in his past 22 games, a stretch that dates back to November 6th. Furthermore, in three out of his last four games, he has played for less than nine minutes on the ice.
This phase of Poitras's season has been marked by disruptions. Firstly, he missed eight games while representing Canada at the World Juniors. Upon his return, he played three games but then sat out the following four due to a shoulder injury. He subsequently played two games, skipped the front end of a back-to-back as part of the team's load management plan, played one more game, and then missed another game on Saturday due to an injury. The nature of this injury, whether it's related to the shoulder injury or something different, remains unclear, as does the possibility of it lingering beyond the All-Star break.
If the latter scenario is the case, then the possibility of sending Poitras back to Guelph may be considered (bearing in mind that he cannot be sent to AHL Providence). In this current form, Poitras doesn't appear to have a consistent role in a playoff or stretch-run lineup for a team with aspirations of winning the Stanley Cup. If he won't be a regular player in Boston or will only receive limited playing time, it might be more beneficial for him to play significant minutes in the OHL and participate in the OHL playoffs to conclude the season.
However, if it's the former scenario that holds true, sending Poitras back to junior hockey doesn't make sense. If the Bruins still believe that the player they observed in October, November, and December has potential, then he is a valuable asset they should aim to retain.
| POLL | ||
31 JANVIER | 260 ANSWERS The Bruins are faced with a major decision regarding their rookie Should the Bruins retain Poitras on the roster? | ||
| Yes | 200 | 76.9 % |
| No, send him to OHL | 60 | 23.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
