The Boston Bruins have announced the sending of forward Matthew Poitras to their farm club, the Providence Bruins. The 20-year-old center was assigned to the American Hockey League (AHL) team after a slump, having scored only one point in his last seven duels.
During a press scrum, head coach Jim Montgomery expressed his expectations for the young player, explaining this decision by his need to progress.
“He needs to have a bigger impact on the game. […] Make more games. Understand our structure. » –Jim Montgomery
“More of an impact in the game. Making more plays, understanding our structure.”
Jim Montgomery on what he wants to see out of Matthew Poitras following his assignment to Providence. pic.twitter.com/zQr6YQBSwy
— NESN (@NESN) November 11, 2024
Since the start of the season, Poitras has committed 11 turnovers in 14 games, while playing around 12 minutes per game. His move to the AHL will give him the opportunity to refine his game and spend more time on the ice. Last year, he managed to secure a position with the big club after training camp. During his first professional campaign, he showed good results by collecting 15 points in 33 duels before suffering a serious shoulder injury which kept him away from the ice for the rest of the season. This year, he has only four points in 14 games. This will be his first stay in the American League, having gone directly from junior to the Bettman circuit in 2023-2024.
Since the announcement of his demotion, the opinions of Bruins observers have been divided. Some are crying foul, while others believe that it is the best decision for his development and so that he can contribute more to the team in the future.
The 20-year-old center is paying the price for the Bruins’ poor start to the campaign, who have a 7-7-2 record. The coach hopes that his group pulls itself together, which it has partially succeeded in doing in recent matches. In their last five meetings, the Bruins have accumulated a record of 3-1-1, after starting the season with a record of 4-6-1. They currently occupy third place in the Atlantic Division and 14th place in the National Hockey League (NHL).
