A Bruins-Oilers deal centered on Matthew Poitras may have been floating around longer than most people realized, but the price tag is already making it look complicated.
The chatter started with Edmonton’s search for a “young Eastern Conference” center, and Poitras quickly became the name that stuck. David Staple of the Edmonton Journal first raised the idea, and Elliotte Friedman later backed it up on the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast.
Friedman didn’t just point to Poitras as the target. He also laid out the hurdle that could keep the deal from moving forward.
“I think they were definitely interested in Poitras from Boston… I think Boston wanted more a pick potentially for Poitras, and I’m not certain Edmonton wanted to do that.”
That lines up with the sense that this was a real conversation, not just background noise. But it also explains why the talks may not be gaining traction. Boston appears to be holding firm on getting a pick back, and Edmonton may not want to meet that ask.
The pick in question sounds like it could be a first-rounder, which makes the whole thing even trickier. Edmonton no longer has its 2027 first-round pick, so any serious offer would likely have to come from 2028 or 2029. Even then, there’s the question of whether that kind of selection would be enough to satisfy Boston if the Oilers stay in the contender mix and the pick lands late in the first round.
That’s the tension here: Poitras may not have much of a future in Boston, but that doesn’t mean the Bruins are treating him like a giveaway. Anyone hoping to land the 22-year-old is going to have to pay.
For now, the deal doesn’t look close. Edmonton’s trade for Filip Hallander on Wednesday led plenty of observers to figure the Oilers might be done chasing a younger center like Poitras. Still, the door may not be shut completely.
If the Oilers run into injury trouble, or if the market shifts, this is the kind of move that could circle back later. Right now, though, the Bruins appear to be asking for more than Edmonton wants to spend.
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