The Boston Bruins selected Matthew Poitras, a 19-year-old forward, with the 54th overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft. Poitras has won a coveted berth on Team Canada’s National Junior Team.
A spot had been purposefully left open in the lineup by Hockey Canada in anticipation of an NHL under-20 talent joining the team. Poitras has suddenly emerged as the player selected for this overseas opportunity, despite the fact that it wasn’t widely anticipated that he would earn a berth with the Boston Bruins at the start of the season.
The group wished Potsy well in a Monday post. For the first time, Poitras will compete for Canada at the World Juniors Tournament. This was a topic of internal discussion for a while, according to Scott Wheeler of the Athletic. “From what I gather, this has beenan ongoing debate between Bruins org. and Poitras’ camp over last 48 hours.” He adds, “Ultimately, decision was he’s best served getting his WJC experience over the holidays.
Minimal Time Required for Poitras to Adjust
Tomorrow, Poitras will travel to Sweden to join the Canadian squad. He is preparing for the esteemed occasion in Gothenburg, which is slated to begin on December 26, 2023, and end on January 5, 2024. Depending on how far Team Canada goes in the tournament, his involvement could affect his availability for the Boston Bruins. Should they advance to the gold medal round on January 5, Poitras might be able to return to the Bruins in time for their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 8. Thus, he might miss eight of the Bruins’ regular season games.
The addition of Poitras is a significant boon for Team Canada, especially considering the team’s relative thinness on offense. With only Owen Beck returning from last year’s gold medal-winning squad, Poitras brings fresh talent to a roster featuring names like Macklin Celebrini, Owen Beck, Conor Geekie, Easton Cowan, and Fraser Minten.
Matt Poitras Will Get Solid Experience On World Juniors Stage
Poitras, who has played 27 games with the Boston Bruins this season, contributing five goals and eight assists, sees this international opportunity as a chance to boost his confidence amid recent struggles under head coach Jim Montgomery. Playing in this tournament could give him some extra championship experience, and get his confidence going again. If he comes back to the Bruins having exploded on offense, all the better.
A two-week vacation might be beneficial. Poitras will take a break from the hard NHL season, hang out with his friends, and relish being a teenager. Ultimately, it might out to be a constructive and revitalizing encounter. “It’s World Juniors, as a Canadian kid you grow up and it’s kind of the dream to play in the World Juniors,” Poitras exclaimed, clearly excited by the news.
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