There was no pomp or circumstance surrounding the announcement, maybe as a result of Matt Poitras’ play took all of the drama out of it.
“He’s sticking around,” mentioned coach Jim Montgomery on Tuesday morning at Warrior Ice Arena.
The Bruins had 9 video games to resolve whether or not to maintain the 19-year-old rookie in Boston and burn a 12 months of his entry degree contract or ship him again to his Canadian junior staff in Guelph. He’s obtained 3-2- totals and is plus-4 in these first 9 video games and primarily made himself too vital to the Boston Bruins for him to be taking part in wherever else.
“(With) his play, he earned it,” mentioned Montgomery. “I think we’re comfortable with him. No guarantees here the rest of the year, but we feel the way he’s progressed that for the time being he’s going to be a Bruin and he’s helping us win hockey games. That’s the most important thing, right? He’s still 19, so we’re going to be cautious.”
Montgomery wouldn’t rule out giving him an evening off right here and there as Anaheim has carried out with their star teenager Leo Carlsson. But with the harm bug that has hit the B’s they simply can’t afford to sit down him out proper now. And proper now, he hasn’t confirmed indicators that he’s in want of a break.
“He’s played faster, he’s continued to get better at both ends of the ice, but what’s appealing to us is that every time you start to think, well, this might be too much, whether it was the exhibition season or these nine games, he just always finds a way to (show) he belong. He belongs. He just belongs,” mentioned Montgomery.
The talent of Poitras was by no means actually questioned. He posted 16-79-95 totals in Guelph final 12 months. But talent alone doesn’t assure an NHL profession. One of his most eye-popping traits is his doggedness on the puck.
“That’s the number one reason why he’s going to play a 10th game, because of that,” mentioned Montgomery. “We see the hockey IQ, we see the skill, we see the vision. But if you don’t compete and you don’t have natural second and third effort, especially at a young age, it’s hard to stay in the league. And that’s been the best quality as to why we think he’s earned this.”
Poitras was unavailable to reporters as a result of he had conferences, in response to B’s public relations. It’s guess one of many issues to be mentioned with GM Don Sweeney was how precisely does a 19-year-old who has by no means lived on his personal go about dwelling in a metropolis like Boston. He’s been dwelling in a neighborhood resort.
Montgomery is comfy with the help system the B’s have in place.
“We use all avenues at our disposal,” mentioned Montgomery. “We have sports psychology, we have athletic trainers, we have sports science and then you have the experience of people like Don Sweeney, he’s great at understanding time management and all of that stuff and imparting that knowledge. And we have great team leaders that take guys under their wing like (Brad Marchand) and (David Pastrnak) and (Charlie McAvoy) and (Hampus) Lindholm and (Brandon) Carlo .We have so many resources here within our culture in the Bruins organization, then you have the alums that are around, with a guy like (Patrice) Bergoenr or (Ray) Bourque. We have a president (Cam Neely) that’s pretty good as a player. We have so many resources and we encourage our players to use all those resources.”
Even the the B’s have began the season at 8-0-1, they’re in a transitional 12 months after the retirements of foundational gamers Bergeron and David Krejci. But there will be an upside to the turnover, and we’re seeing it with each Poitras and rookie John Beecher.
“You always feel the young guys bring you youthful, innocent energy that lifts everybody up,” mentioned Montgomery. “It reminds you of your first days in the NHL because of how excited you were, to go on the road, oh my God, you’re on a plane, you’re not on a bus. All those things. We have a couple of those players who are new to the league and young and they’re bringing us that kind of energy. In fact, we need more of it.”…
The B’s might be with out Matt Grzelcyk (uper physique) and predict to overlook Charlie McAvoy for Thursday’s recreation in opposition to Toronto. McAvoy was scheduled for a cellphone listening to with the league for his excessive, late hit on Oliver Ekman-Larson on Monday evening.
Ian Mitchell, who performed a few video games earlier within the season, is a candidate to return up and Montgomery mentioned that first-year professional Mason Lohrei is as effectively.
“He’s definitely one of the players we’d consider,” mentioned Montgomery.
“I think he had a really good weekend (in Providence). We’re excited about the player because of what he did in camp, as probably you guys are.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com