The Bruins got a lift last season from a handful of young players finding another gear, and that’s why Matt Poitras is a name worth circling for 2026-27.
Boston’s bounce-back included breakout years from Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Jonathan Aspirot. Now the next question is whether the Bruins can get a similar jump from more of their younger talent. Poitras sits near the top of that list.
The 2025-26 season did not give him much room to work. The 22-year-old forward appeared in only three games for Boston, a steep drop after he skated in 33 NHL games in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. That limited look made for a frustrating year, but it also leaves the door open for a much bigger role next season.
Poitras is still young, and he’s already shown enough skill to keep the conversation alive. He has not yet locked down a full-time NHL job with the Bruins, but the talent is there, and Boston could use more offense in its lineup. If he can push into a top-nine role, that would be a welcome development for the Black and Gold.
His track record in Providence also supports the case. In 109 career AHL games with the Providence Bruins, Poitras has 30 goals and 85 points. His 2024-25 run there was especially productive, with 17 goals and 41 points in 40 games.
The real question now is whether that production can carry over to the NHL. If Poitras can bring that AHL scoring touch to Boston, he has a chance to become a meaningful part of the forward group next season, the same way Minten and Khusnutdinov did in 2025-26.
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