The Boston Bruins are a week out from opening training camp at Warrior Ice Arena, and one of the biggest questions hanging over the roster is still unresolved: Matthew Poitras remains unsigned.
That uncertainty has only grown louder after Tuesday’s news that the Bruins locked up young center Fraser Minten on a seven-year deal worth an AAV of $7.2 million. Poitras, meanwhile, is still waiting, and the closer camp gets, the more it looks like he may not have a deal in place by then.
Corey Pronman of The Athletic added another layer to the situation by naming Poitras among 11 intriguing players who could hit the wire during preseason. If that’s how Boston were to lose him, it would be a major shock.
"Poitras is very skilled and intelligent. He makes a lot of difficult plays with the puck and can run a pro power play.
He can create off the edge, while also showing no fear of attacking the inside despite his 5-foot-11 frame. Poitras doesn’t have the typical athleticism of an NHL forward, though.
On top of his frame, he lacks NHL foot speed and isn’t overly physical. He has played NHL games and has NHL skill, but seems like more of a depth forward without adding more elements to his game,'' wrote Pronman.
At this point, the Bruins-Poitras situation feels like it has to break one of two ways: a contract gets done, or he’s moved elsewhere. Boston doesn’t seem likely to simply expose him to waivers and risk losing him for nothing.
For now, the reason he’s still unsigned is anyone’s guess. Maybe the player is holding firm, maybe the team is.
Either way, there’s still a roster squeeze to consider. The Bruins already have an overload of bottom-six forwards, and when camp decisions start getting made, Poitras’ place in the mix will be one of the most closely watched.
In Other News...
Bruins Blue-Line Crunch May Force A Veteran Out Before Opening Night
A crowded Bruins depth chart on defense is creating one of the more interesting questions of camp, with the back end and the bottom six both carrying more bodies than spots. Boston has not moved yet, but the roster squeeze is already obvious enough that it has prompted some early chatter about how Don Sweeney might clear room before Opening Night.
One name to watch is Henri Jokiharju, who is under contract for two more years at $3 million per season and could become part of the conversation if the Bruins decide they need to reshape the blue line. For now, Sweeney still has a little time to sort it out, and Charlie McAvoys six-game suspension gives the front office an added reason to pause before making a decision that could affect the defense beyond the first week of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Massachusetts Native
Chris Kreiders situation has suddenly put the Bruins on the radar for a player who has long made sense as a fit on paper. The Massachusetts native is now available as Anaheim and Kreider have moved to place him on waivers for a contract termination, opening the door for a new landing spot. Bostons need for more scoring is no secret, and a homecoming angle only adds to the appeal if the sides decide there is interest.
The wrinkle is that Kreider appears to have some control over where this goes next, which makes this more than a simple waiver scramble. The Bruins can be viewed as a logical destination, but there has been no official sign that they have moved in that direction yet. For now, it is one of those situations where Bostons fit is obvious enough to keep watching, even if the final answer may depend on choices made well before any real decision reaches the Bruins. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Just Made Their Belief In Fraser Minten Impossible To Miss
Fraser Mintens rise with the Bruins has moved quickly enough that Boston no longer seems interested in treating him as a long-term project. After arriving in a trade from Toronto, the forward has shown the kind of offensive growth that has clearly caught the attention of the front office, and the organization has now added him to its growing core for the years ahead.
The move also says plenty about where the Bruins see themselves heading. With 11 players already signed through at least the 2029-30 season, Boston has been steadily locking in pieces of its future, and Mintens place in that picture now looks secure. For a team trying to keep its next window open, the latest extension is another sign that management believes it has found a player worth building around. [Read more 🡒]