Matthew Poitras: Future Bruins #1 Center?
Entering the 2023-24 NHL Season, it felt like the Bruins were really screwed. The Bruins currently own the longest playoff streak in the NHL and a separate longest playoff streak in the history of the league. That was all supposed to come to an end when you lost one of the greatest two-way players ever with Patrice Bergeron retiring . Well, it turns out Matthew Poitras entered the chat at just the right moment in time!
Can Don Sweeney actually draft? The answer to that question is still a resounding no , but hitting on Poitras will certainly help his resume. Poitras, 19, was the 54th pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and already looks like a hit during his brief career. Plus, I’m kinda convinced that this dude is going to be an absolute stud just based on the way his name is pronounced (Po-Twah).
Poitras lit the world on fire at the OHL level a season ago (95 points in 63 games) but nobody is ever sure how that stuff translates when playing against men. He has three goals in six games and it sure feels like there is absolutely no reason to send him back to the OHL for more seasoning. The Bruins need center help in the worst way and the kid should be given the opportunity to fill the enormous shoes left behind.
He’s so fresh that every broadcaster says his name in a different style. Still, the speed is there and he’s already showing signs of having a complete game on both ends of the ice. Poitras has already usurped Charlie Coyle for second line duties and it’s only a matter of time before he leapfrogs his way to the top to play with David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand.
It’s time to start paying attention to this kid. The Bruins got a shot in the arm with young talent at the perfect time. Nobody is saying that Poitras will replace everything that Bergeron provided but it’s fascinating that they may have had the guy waiting in the wings the entire time. Keep in mind, Bergeron was also a second round pick.
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