By Andrew Bluestein | Follow Me On Twitter @adbblue
Boston Bruins 2022 second-round pick Matthew Poitras has been turning heads at Bruins training camp and continued that Sunday night. He was the top-line center playing between James Van Riemsdyk and Jake DeBrusk as the Bruins played their first preseason game at TD Garden, winning 3-0 over the New York Rangers. The 19-year-old contributed to two of the Bruins goals in the victory.
Poitras opened the scoring with a power-play goal, beating Rangers netminder Jonathan Quick on a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot, and later added a primary assist on a DeBrusk goal. If the young center keeps this pace throughout training camp, head coach Jim Montgomery and GM Don Sweeney should seriously consider giving him an NHL roster spot.
It has been a while since the Bruins have had a young prospect emerge and make the team out of training camp so it would be an excellent thing for the team, especially with questions surrounding the future of the center position. Thus far, Poitras has shown great instincts in the offensive zone with the puck on his stick. The right-shot center’s most noticeable strength is finding areas on the ice with space to distribute the puck. He has slick hands and is able to control the puck in tight areas.
He was just about a point-and-a-half per game player for the Guelph Storm of the OHL last season, as in 63 games, he put up 95 points, 79 of which were assists. Poitras has been centering David Pastrnak at the practice sessions, so it’s clear the organization has high hopes for the potential rookie. Team president Cam Neely mentioned in a press conference over the weekend, “If you deserve to be here, we’re gonna make it happen.”
The Brooklin, Ontario, Canada native is still under the age of 20, which doesn’t make him eligible to be assigned to AHL affiliate Providence. He must either be placed on the NHL roster or sent back to his junior team. If he does make the opening night roster, the team would have nine games to decide to keep him with the big club or send him back to Juniors. That’s a good reason why it would be worth giving him a look if he earns it.
The list of players 20 or under who have made the team out of training camp in the past is pretty good company. Patrice Bergeron made the team as an 18-year-old for the 2003-04 season. Milan Lucic made the team as a 19-year-old for the 2007-08 season. Tyler Seguin made the team as an 18-year-old for the 2010-11 season. And Dougie Hamilton made the team as a 19-year-old for the 2013 shortened season. Poitras looks to add himself to that group.
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