By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis
On November 11, 2024, Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney sent shockwaves through his team’s fandom when he sent sophomore forward Matt Poitras down to Providence. Many fans (this writer included) weren’t happy at the time and thought Poitras deserved an opportunity to grind through his struggles and stay at the NHL level. Fast forward two months, and Matt Poitras is back in Boston and better for spending time in the minors.
Fans had high hopes for Poitras coming into this season after he burst onto the scene with 3-2-5 in his first seven games with the Black and Gold during his rookie campaign. Coming into training camp, Poitras was expected to be a top-nine fixture for the Bruins while moonlighting on the second powerplay unit.
But things didn’t start the way anybody would’ve wanted. The 2022 second-round pick was only able to register 1-3-4 through his first 14 games of the season. His struggles, and the team’s as a whole, resulted in Poitras being sent down to Providence, where he honed the details of his game, built on his strengths, and, most importantly, got his confidence back.
“I think, for me, I got on the ice a lot more, more practices and more reps. I just got that confidence back that I was playing with at the start of this year,” said Poitras ahead of Tuesday’s divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning. “Last year, it was kind of just going out there and having fun, working hard, and kind of letting the rest of the stuff take care of itself. So I think it’s just getting that confidence back and getting a lot of puck touches, and I think that was very beneficial for me.”
Poitras got off to a bit of a rocky start in the AHL, posting only three assists across his first seven games. But once he settled in and got his feet under him, Boston’s most exciting prospect took over. Throughout the 16 games before his call-up, Poitras posted 8-9-17, including a seven-game goal streak, and ended up notching 20 points in 23 games.
Poitras said, “I feel like I was just shooting the puck more and, I guess, being a bit more selfish when asked about the difference in his game following his time in the AHL. Sometimes I look away to pass more, and I think when you get those opportunities to shoot, they don’t come that often, so you just have to always shoot the puck, and good things happen.”
“I just feel more comfortable as a player compared to when I went down (to Providence),” said Poitras. “I feel better overall just being on the ice, and I kind of just found the love for the game again. It just makes you feel better when you get on the ice every time you come to the rink.”
The Ontario native made an instant impact when he returned to the lineup Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Poitras centered the third line and assisted on Trent Frederic’s goal to open the game. It was clear to fans and interim head coach Joe Sacco that the youngster provided a much-needed spark to the previously skidding Bruins.
“Oh, I think there’s no doubt about (the energy Poitras provided the team),” said Sacco. “You could see it, and I think you could tell right away that it energized our group.”
It may not have been a popular decision, but in the long run, it may turn out that sending Matt Poitras down was best for his long-term development. It’s clear from the way he played against Tampa Bay and the quotes he gave in the pre-and postgame that Poitras regained his confidence and even found a love for the game of hockey again while down in the AHL.
He may not have deserved his demotion and was probably victimized by a lack of finishing on the part of his linemates, but it’s clear Poitras needed some time away from the pros to work on his game. It will be a mad dash to the finish, and the Bruins need every point they can to keep their playoff hopes alive. An energized and productive Matt Poitras goes a long way toward making those hopes a reality.
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