The Boston Bruins have long employed a next-player-up mentality and that will continue to be the case with Matt Poitras’ recent call-up to the NHL. The 21-year-old Poitras has spent his entire 2025-26 season in the AHL with the Providence Bruins thus far, but an injury to Elias Lindholm opened the door for Poitras’ first recall of the season.
Poitras has always been an interesting player to monitor during his time with the Bruins. Drafted with the 54th pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, it was always going to be an uphill battle for him to make the NHL. For the most part, the hit rate of NHL players drafted near the bottom of the first round and beyond is very low. Poitras clearly didn’t get this memo, though, cracking the Bruins’ lineup out of training camp at just 19 years old. He had a successful, albeit abbreviated rookie season, scoring five goals and 15 points in 33 games prior to suffering a season-ending injury.
Even with the injury setback, expectations for what Poitras could become in the Bruins’ lineup continued to grow.
The following season, Poitras would play just 33 games again in the NHL, scoring one goal and 11 points as a sophomore. The rest of his season was spent in Providence, where he scored 17 goals and 41 points in 40 games. At the time, it was a curious decision not to recall him to the NHL at some point given the success he was having on a nightly basis in the AHL.
Matt Poitras has earned his first call-up to the NHL with the Boston Bruins this season after an injury to Elias Lindholm opened the door. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
This season, with the Bruins expected to allow many of their young prospects to fight for opportunities in the lineup, general manager Don Sweeney instead opted to sign some high-floor veterans who would provide more certainty in the lineup, but less upside. This meant some of the younger players in the system would be forced to remain in Providence. Poitras was one such player.
Poitras Still Ahead of the Curve
The box score hasn’t been as friendly to Poitras this season, as he’s recorded eight goals and 24 points in 39 games, but his vision, playmaking ability, and overall awareness still resemble the player the Bruins have remained high on. For Poitras, regaining some confidence could be the difference maker between him being a full-time NHL player and the fringe player he’s seemingly become.
But even that’s an unfair statement. Though the opinions on Poitras may have soured a little among fans, it’s very important to remember that he’s still only 21 years old. Many players don’t even get their first taste of NHL action at this age. Poitras has not only played NHL minutes, but he’s also shown legitimate flashes that make him intriguing moving forward.
Related: 2 Players That Need to Be on the Bruins Radar at the Trade Deadline
In the end, Poitras will get a chance to help the Bruins in the short term with the possibility of being a long-term option for them this season and beyond. With the NHL Trade Deadline approaching, though, the makeup of this Bruins team could be different within the next couple of weeks. It’s unclear exactly how the Bruins will approach this deadline, but the plans should involve maximizing assets while still remaining competitive this season. If there’s a big fish to be found, they must come with long-term security. This could ultimately affect Poitras, but only time will tell how everything plays out.
