Matthew Poitras still has a real path to stick with the Bruins this season, but Elliotte Friedman’s latest read on the situation makes one thing clear: Boston may not have many clean choices.
Poitras was slowed by an injury that cut his training camp short, and the Bruins put him on injured reserve. Even so, Don Sweeney said Monday that the team will give the young center a chance once he’s healthy.
That part of the picture is straightforward. The complication comes if Boston ever tries to send him back to the AHL.
According to Friedman’s season-opening 32 Thoughts blog, Poitras would have to clear waivers first, and Friedman believes other teams are waiting to see whether that becomes necessary. That kind of setup puts the Bruins in a tough spot, because a player in that position is unlikely to slip through. The risk, from Boston’s perspective, is losing him for nothing.
There’s another angle, though, and it’s the one that makes this more than just a waiver story. If other teams are indeed holding back to see whether Poitras becomes available, they may also be willing to offer something in return to get him before it gets that far. That wouldn’t be as simple as keeping him outright, but it would at least give the Bruins some value back.
What happens while Poitras recovers could also depend on the guys around him. Sean Kuraly is one name to watch after a rough preseason, because if Poitras is going to take a roster spot, it’s probably on that fourth line.
Elias Lindholm is another concern, especially with his back injury. One bad hit along the boards could be enough to knock him out of action.
There’s also a scenario where Boston finds a fit that keeps Poitras in the mix without forcing a move. If he were between James Hagens and Marat Khusnutdinov, with Fraser Minten sliding up to the top line, that could be the kind of alignment that keeps him in the organization.
The broader reason this is such a delicate situation is that Poitras already did enough to make a case for himself. He signed a one-year deal at the start of camp, which looked like a prove-it opportunity, and then he backed it up with his play before getting hurt. Based on what he showed in camp and in his lone preseason game, losing him would sting.
He also brought something new to his game, and that matters. Poitras isn’t just a young center with upside; he’s a high-energy player who can chip in offense and move around the lineup. That makes him useful, not just interesting.
If Boston does decide to move on, Dans Locmelis could help soften the blow. His play out of camp gives the Bruins a possible replacement, which is part of why a trade path for Poitras might be easier to navigate than it first looks.
For now, though, the story is still unresolved. Poitras has a chance once he’s healthy, but Friedman’s warning is enough to keep the trade possibility alive.
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