By: Jason Cooke | Follow me on X @cookejournalism
At last, the Boston Bruins are bringing up one of the kids to the big club. After recently announcing the call-up of veteran AHL forward Vinni Lettieri, Bruins brass is now bringing up one of their most promising blue-chip youngsters in Matt Poitras, as announced by the team on Tuesday. Michael Callahan has also been recalled to Boston, while Mark Kastelic and Charlie McAvoy have been placed on injured reserve. Hampus Lindholm has been placed on long-term injured reserve.
Poitras played 14 games with the Bruins in 2024-25 before being sent down to Providence to further his development. In that 14-game span, he totaled just one goal and three assists while seemingly struggling to find his footing. The 20-year-old forward impressed in his debut NHL campaign, skating in 47 games following a training camp that left management no choice but to provide Poitras with a roster spot.
Immediately showing he was NHL-ready, Poitras lit the lamp six times and picked up 13 helpers for 19 points before suffering a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. This summer, Poitras expressed his desire to get bigger and stronger in the weight room to be able to navigate the physical nature of the NHL as an undersized player.
“I feel a bit stronger,” he said at development camp. “Even though I put on a bit of body fat, I feel like I just got stronger overall. I think I’m still moving at the same speed out there, maybe a bit faster. Corners and one-on-one battles is a big focus.”
Still, management felt Poitras would be best suited to develop his game in Providence while Boston endured struggles out of the gate. He was assigned to join Boston’s minor league affiliate on Nov. 11. Since then, he’s been one of Providence’s primary contributors and has netted 20 points in 23 games including a seven-game goal streak in December.
With the Bruins in desperate need of offensive contributions, Poitras will look to return to the NHL with an improved sense of IQ and a 200-foot game that will translate at the next level. In the meantime, promising prospects Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov will continue to marinate in Providence until their name is called. Lysell was recently brought up to Boston for one game before quickly being returned. Merkulov received a three-game audition in November in a stretch that saw him pick up an assist.
With a depleted Bruins backend due to a recent McAvoy injury, Callahan will look to bring his steady defensive game from Providence to Boston. In 35 AHL games this season, he has posted 1-5-6 and has skated in 175 career AHL games. McAvoy, who has posted 5-15-20 this season with the Bruins, sustained in injury in the Bruins’ recent 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers and will join Lindholm (injured Nov. 12) on the shelf on the Bruins defensive depth.
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