The Bruins have cleared a path for Matt Poitras, and Mikey Eyssimont is the roster casualty.
Boston placed the veteran utility forward on waivers Sunday, a move that strongly suggests Poitras is nearing his first game of the season. Poitras has been on injured reserve since Sept. 22 after suffering a lower-body injury in practice the day after he impressed in the Bruins’ first preseason game.
GM Don Sweeney has already made the organization’s intent clear. Poitras, who would need waivers to be sent to Providence, is expected to get an opportunity to show what kind of NHL player the 22-year-old center can be.
Eyssimont had held onto the 13th forward spot, helped by a strong preseason and Poitras’ injury. But Boston has leaned toward youth across the roster.
Frederic Brunet, the 23-year-old defenseman who also requires waivers, was kept ahead of veteran Henri Jokiharju, though Brunet has yet to appear in a game. And 19-year-old James Hagens has become a regular in the lineup, skating on a normal shift through the first three games and scoring his first goal Friday in Winnipeg.
That youth push also made veteran Alex Steeves expendable. He cleared waivers and was assigned to Providence.
Eyssimont’s situation is a little different from Jokiharju and Steeves. He’s in the final year of his two-year deal, which carries a $1.45 million salary.
With no term left on the contract, he could draw interest from another team more easily than the others did. If he clears waivers, Boston will carry a $225,000 cap hit on his salary, pushing the Bruins’ total dead money to $2.4 million.
It’s not ideal, but it’s part of the cost of making room for younger players.
When Poitras actually gets into the lineup is still up in the air. The Bruins host the Ottawa Senators on Monday, but Poitras has only one full team practice under his belt.
Coach Marco Sturm said last week, before the team left on its two-game road trip, that he wanted Poitras to get more practice time first. Maybe Boston has decided he’s ready enough now.
Maybe not. We’ll see.
The bigger question is who comes out when Poitras goes in. Sean Kuraly looks like the most logical choice, even if the fourth line has been solid.
Boston’s penalty kill hurt it in Saturday’s loss, and Kuraly was on the ice for both Minnesota power-play goals. Still, the Bruins would lose some grit and heavy work along the boards and in the corners if Kuraly sits.
That said, the club needs to find out, once and for all, what it can gain from Poitras.
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