Bruins’ Matthew Poitras Keeps Demonstrating He Deserves a Spot in Boston.
Matthew Poitras made a big impression at Bruins training camp last season, securing a spot on Boston’s NHL roster. The then 19-year-old rookie participated in 33 games before shoulder surgery cut his season short in February.
Now, as training camp kicks off again, Poitras is back in the mix, determined to earn his place on the team.
“I want to be here,” Poitras told reporters on Thursday, according to the team. “I want to prove I belong and make it impossible for them to send me away.”
Poitras bolstered his case by stepping into the top center role during Friday’s practice when Elias Lindholm was absent. During the Bruins’ annual Black and Gold Scrimmage on Saturday, the 20-year-old second-round pick quickly made an impact, scoring one of the Black team’s six goals after collecting a loose puck and beating Ryan Bischel.
“Poitras had a strong game,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery remarked after the scrimmage, as reported by Boston Hockey Now’s Andrew Fantucchio. “He was active around the puck, which is key for him. We’ll experiment with him on the wing and see where he fits best.”
Despite being just a scrimmage, it marked Poitras’s first game action since January 25.
“It’s early in camp, and it felt good to be back playing,” he said. “There was some rust, and I’d like to improve on a few plays, but overall, I felt strong. This kind of extended injury is new to me, so I’m just getting back into the rhythm and getting used to the game atmosphere again.”
On the camp’s opening day, Poitras played right wing with Trent Frederic as center. In Lindholm’s absence, he took over the center position alongside Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak. Poitras expressed his adaptability, stating he was comfortable in either role.
“I’ve played wing before and feel good there,” he noted. “It requires less skating than center, so I can conserve energy for offensive plays, which I enjoy. Ultimately, I’m ready to play wherever I fit best.”
