It seemed obvious that Matt Poitras would be remaining with the Bruins beyond his nine-game extended tryout, but you can never really be 100% sure until there's an official announcement. Boston coach Jim Montgomery made that announcement before Tuesday's optional practice.
"He's sticking around," Montgomery told the media.
By keeping Poitras for a 10th game, the Bruins will officially begin his three-year entry-level contract. They could have sent him back to juniors before his 10th game, which will come on Thursday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, without burning a year off his ELC. Poitras is not eligible to play in the AHL this season because of his age.
Sending the 19-year-old center back to Guelph became less and less of an option as Poitras continued to play well and make it clear that he belonged on this team, could handle NHL competition, and could help the Bruins win now.
"His play, he's earned it," Montgomery said. "I think we're comfortable with him. There's still no guarantees here the rest of the year, but we feel that the way he's progressed, for the time being, he's gonna be in our lineup. He's helping us win hockey games. That's the most important thing, right? He's still 19, so we're gonna be cautious.
"What I think is appealing to us," Montgomery added, "is every time when you start to think, well, this might be too much, whether it was exhibition season, the nine games, he just always finds a way to be like, he belongs. He just belongs."
Poitras has three goals and two assists this season, tying him for third on the team in goals and sixth on the team in points. His four 5-on-5 points are tied for second with Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy and Pavel Zacha, trailing only David Pastrnak (6). The Bruins have 55.2% of expected goals with him on the ice at 5-on-5, which ranks sixth on the team among players who have played at least five games.
Poitras has played on each of the Bruins' top three lines, most recently finishing Monday's win over the Panthers centering the top line between Zacha and Pastrnak. His poise, vision and creativity with the puck have made him a good fit with pretty much anyone, but it's his compete level and refusal to give up on plays that Montgomery highlighted as the biggest reason he's staying.
"I think that's the number one reason why he's gonna play a 10th game, is because of that," Montgomery said. "We see the hockey IQ, we see the skill, we see the vision, but if you don't compete, have that natural second and third effort, especially at a young age, it's hard to stay in this league. And that's been the quality that has been the best quality as to why we think he's earned this."
