Player Discussion Matthew Poitras II

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Did you watch any of the games?

No I listened to them via telegraph.

Not to make a big deal of a kids tournament, but are you just going to dismiss every other period of hockey he played in this tourney? He was invited to the team to provide offense, help them win. He didn’t produce offensively. I’m a fan and think he’ll be a very good player for the Bruins. But he stunk in this tournament.

The problem here is a lot of posters here don't understand nuance.

 

[BergyWho37]

Unfortunately when you’re setting up guys and they aren’t finishing it usually falls on the guy carrying the puck cause they only remember turnovers for some reason..

Was he amazing this tourney obviously not but he is taking heat for questionable reasons I guess it’s also expectations and maybe that’s why I have a different opinion then some maybe even most I wasn’t expecting him to dominate.

Anyways he’ll be fine coming back playing with guys that understand structure and the ice size he’s use too.

 

[goldnblack]

Not to make a big deal of a kids tournament, but are you just going to dismiss every other period of hockey he played in this tourney? He was invited to the team to provide offense, help them win. He didn’t produce offensively. I’m a fan and think he’ll be a very good player for the Bruins. But he stunk in this tournament.

16 days ago he was a Boston Bruin. He has a few days to meet linemates (after a pile of NHL games), then go overseas to play. What you hope for is that as the tourney advances, his play advances.

That's exactly what happened. He has a point in this game, a point in the last game, and he really looked like he was starting to figure it out. You want his best play to be 2-2 third period of the medal game, and he brought it. He put the puck in some prime shooting spots for his wings and they didn't score. But more importantly to me his hockey IQ popped off the screen in his end almost every period I watched.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Joe Thornton was never a playoff choker, he put his wingers in position to score and they didn't.

 

[goldnblack]

Joe Thornton was never a playoff choker, he put his wingers in position to score and they didn't.

And Charlie Coyle isn't a top 6F

 

[Oates2Neely]

16 days ago he was a Boston Bruin. He has a few days to meet linemates (after a pile of NHL games), then go overseas to play. What you hope for is that as the tourney advances, his play advances.

That's exactly what happened. He has a point in this game, a point in the last game, and he really looked like he was starting to figure it out. You want his best play to be 2-2 third period of the medal game, and he brought it. He put the puck in some prime shooting spots for his wings and they didn't score. But more importantly to me his hockey IQ popped off the page in his end almost every period I watched.

Or I see it as a kid who has been playing against men in the best league in the world, and should’ve found it slightly easier playing vs kids his age.

I’m sure he’ll be fine going forward. He just looked mediocre to me. And he did have a solid 3rd period today, where was that play in the first two periods? Good young player. Glad he’s on his way back to Boston without an injury.

 

[Kegs]

Ok bring him back. Forget this kids tournament. He looked good today imo but I don’t care about the world jrs really. I really like him as a bruin. I don’t think they should have sent him.

 

[Sheppy]

Judging by the takes in here you would think he's destined to be selling himself on the streets in 3 weeks because his NHL career is over after what people are claiming to be a sub par hockey tournament.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Judging by the takes in here you would think he's destined to be selling himself on the streets in 3 weeks because his NHL career is over after what people are claiming to be a sub par hockey tournament.

Followed him as closely as Wyatt Johnson on Dallas last year and they are pacing the same, atleast they were up until the WJs.

Only difference I can see is Johnston plays for a team with less scrutiny. Boston fans should give the kid some time to figure his shit out.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Judging by the takes in here you would think he's destined to be selling himself on the streets in 3 weeks because his NHL career is over after what people are claiming to be a sub par hockey tournament.

There must be a bunch of people that have me blocked because I see 1 take from 1 person that is overreacting to a disappointing WJC performance.

 

[Oates2Neely]

Judging by the takes in here you would think he's destined to be selling himself on the streets in 3 weeks because his NHL career is over after what people are claiming to be a sub par hockey tournament.

Where’d you see that take? The takes I read suggest Poitras had a disappointing tournament & did not live up to expectations. Now he’s back to Boston where he belongs.

 

[Sheppy]

(Guy's im exaggerating and joking)

 

[Bruinfanatic]

To me I saw him make numerous nice setup passes that his teammates didn’t capitalize on and seemed like numerous times his teammates too some very low percentage shots instead of passing to him when he was wide open in front of net or just to the side.

 

[Sheppy]

I can see the argument how he was underwhelming and I can see how many thought he had a decent tournament.

My one issue I noticed with him is that he was skating and holding onto the puck a little too long and ultimately, I thought this was due to the larger ice. I think he thought he had more time and space than he did.

I also saw some periods of dominant hockey from him where his hockey IQ really shined.

 

[22Brad Park]

16 days ago he was a Boston Bruin. He has a few days to meet linemates (after a pile of NHL games), then go overseas to play. What you hope for is that as the tourney advances, his play advances.

That's exactly what happened. He has a point in this game, a point in the last game, and he really looked like he was starting to figure it out. You want his best play to be 2-2 third period of the medal game, and he brought it. He put the puck in some prime shooting spots for his wings and they didn't score. But more importantly to me his hockey IQ popped off the screen in his end almost every period I watched.

I think he was average to bad for Canada.I never liked sending him over and I am on record here saying so before they sent him.This did nothing to help him unless we are talking about dealing with adversity because not getting a medal had to hurt.Now he comes back if Bruins even want to insert him with way they are playing & he basically has to get up to speed here again.

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

Wonder how this will affect his confidence. Disappointing performance from Poitras. Let’s hope he shakes off that stench quickly.

did you actually watch the games or just look at box scores? his last 2 games he was arguably Canada's best all around forward

 

[goldnblack]

did you actually watch the games or just look at box scores? his last 2 games he was arguably Canada's best all around forward

Today he reminded me a lot of a blend of young 46 and 37 in how he played his game. I really hope Lysell pans out because that level of skill on his wing would be delicious in the future.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

So many Canadian forwards couldn't finish all tournament long. I've never seen the likes of it with guys fumbling pucks on empty nets and tap-ins. Portais could have easily had 3-4 assists per game. He is a set-up C and wingers couldn't cash in.

 

[TP70BruinsCup]

So many Canadian forwards couldn't finish all tournament long. I've never seen the likes of it with guys fumbling pucks on empty nets and tap-ins. Portais could have easily had 3-4 assists per game. He is a set-up C and wingers couldn't cash in.

Canada could have had 5-6 goals in the third period alone…..if they could hit the net. All period long they got in and then after the shot you heard the glass behind the net being hit. Plan must have been to shoot high…..but they should have planned to crash the net. Still this team didn’t look right after the game vs the Swedes. Couldn’t break through their defensive play and in that game & vs Germany…..and today…..they only played half the game. Still, they are just kids so I won’t flip out like it was the Bruins losing in round one.

 

[Bruin4]

Or I see it as a kid who has been playing against men in the best league in the world, and should’ve found it slightly easier playing vs kids his age.

I’m sure he’ll be fine going forward. He just looked mediocre to me. And he did have a solid 3rd period today, where was that play in the first two periods? Good young player. Glad he’s on his way back to Boston without an injury.

I remember Bergy saying during an interview that the pace was a lot faster in the WJ. Now grant it that team was exceptional. In Poitras I saw a player who played well, and set up his teammates who didn't bury their chances ( Savoie ) and shame on Letang for not playing him with Celebrini or Geekie sooner. He also refused to play him on the first unit PP when they were starving for goals.

 

[Bruin4]

The Kid needs a hug. This sucks he feels this way, cause its a team game and unfortunately for them it just wasn't meant to be. Onward and upward Matty !

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

So many Canadian forwards couldn't finish all tournament long. I've never seen the likes of it with guys fumbling pucks on empty nets and tap-ins. Portais could have easily had 3-4 assists per game. He is a set-up C and wingers couldn't cash in.

I saw it this way too. I think Poitras line was Canada's best as things went on but they couldn't finish. This is Poitras problem often, over thinking and trying for perfect plays when maybe he should just shoot or dump and chase. He will get coached and work on it I have no doubts.

The passion he shows in his post game tell me he's a future heart and soul guy for the Bruins. I like his attitude a lot.

Sucks for him, but it is also a learning experience.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

I can see the argument how he was underwhelming and I can see how many thought he had a decent tournament.

My one issue I noticed with him is that he was skating and holding onto the puck a little too long and ultimately, I thought this was due to the larger ice. I think he thought he had more time and space than he did.

I also saw some periods of dominant hockey from him where his hockey IQ really shined.

I think he hangs on to the puck a little to long even when he was with the Bruins he likes to dangle like Marchand but he doesn’t have the lower body strength yet and gets knocked off the puck a lot.

 

[pgm16]

The Kid needs a hug. This sucks he feels this way, cause its a team game and unfortunately for them it just wasn't meant to be. Onward and upward Matty !

This is what I don't like about the World Juniors as a Canadian, these KIDS have the weight of a country on their shoulders, because of the media...etc !!!

 

[JoeIsAStud]

Ok bring him back. Forget this kids tournament. He looked good today imo but I don’t care about the world jrs really. I really like him as a bruin. I don’t think they should have sent him.

Totally agree.

the tournaments are hard. You get pulled out of a system you are used to playing, a role you are used to playing, thrown in with a bunch of people you don't really know, don't have chemistry with. then you have the pressure of a country on you. And heck as the kid from the NHL, double the pressure.

I certainly am not going to hold it against a kid like MP. Especially where he hasn't been on this team before, so he hasn't had multiple previous camps, etc like many of the guys might. Sounds like he was playing his best hockey in the end.

get him back to Boston. Figure out a plan for the rest of the year to ensure he gets his time on the ice, and honestly load managed him, because he is still a boy playing with men at the NHL level. As long as they are healthy they do have enough depth to manage his games much better than they did the first half