Poitras on quest to become center of attention for Bruins

Prospect Learns from Bergeron and Krejci, Building a Promising Future

Following the first day of development camp with the Boston Bruins, 19-year-old center Matthew Poitras skated off the ice and was approached by a group of young fans who eagerly sought his autograph. Drafted by the Bruins in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Poitras is set to play one more season with the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League. However, these early fan interactions have filled him with excitement for what lies ahead.

“It’s pretty cool,” he remarked. “If fans take the time to make a poster for me, the least I can do is go over and sign a few things.”

With veteran Bruins centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, both 37 years old, contemplating their futures, Poitras recognizes the opportunity to step into a significant role in the organization a couple of seasons down the line. He had the chance to practice with the two veterans during training camp last year and learned valuable lessons from closely observing them throughout the season.

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Poitras shared his observations, saying, “Watching how [Bergeron] maneuvers around the defensive zone, it feels like he’s never rushed to make a play. He remains calm, so maybe that’s something I need to incorporate into my game—an element of composure in the defensive zone, not overcommitting.”

Taking inspiration from Bergeron’s style, Bruins player development coordinator Adam McQuaid emphasized the importance of Poitras (5-foot-11, 176 pounds) rounding out his defensive skills without compromising his offensive strengths.

“[Poitras] has a desire to go to the tough areas and the net,” McQuaid explained. “Becoming stronger will enable him to do those things. As a center, we’ll need him to be dependable in his own end.”

Poitras, a native of Brooklin, Ontario, possesses evident offensive potential. Last season, he finished tied for fifth in the Ontario Hockey League with 95 points (16 goals, 79 assists) in 63 games for the Guelph Storm. His 79 assists ranked second, trailing only Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit of the Sarnia Sting (81).

Poitras on quest to become center of attention for Bruins

Despite nearly doubling his point total from the previous season (50), Poitras experienced a decline in goal-scoring, recording 16 goals compared to his 21 goals in 2021-22.

“I think I focused too much on passing,” Poitras admitted. “Maybe I had a bit of bad luck throughout the year, but going into next season, I definitely plan to shoot the puck more.”

McQuaid echoed Poitras’ evaluation of his unfortunate goal-scoring streak while commending his playmaking abilities.

“Despite his tough luck, he still managed to rack up around 75 assists and missed out on several scoring opportunities,” McQuaid praised.

With the chance to make a significant impact at the NHL level on the horizon, Poitras understands that it will take more than luck to reach the next level.

“I’ll continue working hard,” he affirmed. “I’ll arrive at training camp prepared and in top shape, giving it my all and making it challenging for them to decide whether to cut me.”

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Mai Linh Pham

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