Player Discussion Matthew Poitras II

[22Brad Park]

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 !!!

Same reason I hate Leafs so much,,MEDIA

 

[jgatie]

Same reason I hate Leafs so much,,MEDIA

You mean you don't hate them for their fans alone?

 

[22Brad Park]

You mean you don't hate them for their fans alone?

They can be obnoxious for sure when things going well but not winning since 1967 there is really not much they can say when push comes to shove.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Good tournament, bad tournament, it really really doesn't matter. Kid went and represented his country. Good for him. It didn't work out. That sucks, but never mind. Some teams click in a short space of time, some don't. This one just didn't quite get there.

Back home Matty and the NHL journey continues. As has already been noted here, if it takes just a couple of weeks outside the system topped by disappointment to really knock him off his progression then it will only have exposed an immaturity in his game that was already there. But I doubt it. I think he'll bounce back ok. Curious to see when and how he slots back into the Bruins' lineup.

 

[Oates2Neely]

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

I saw a kid who was trying to do too much. Plenty times he could’ve made a quick simple pass sooner. Hung onto puck too long at times, allowing opposition to adjust. He’ll learn. Going to be a great player for Boston once he puts it all together.

 

[Hookslide]

Exactly.

I have a high opinion of the hockey knowledge on the Bruins boards. However if there is more than handful here that didn’t know (not think) a 19 year old fresh out of Juniors playing top two line Center in the NHL would not have a bump or two in the road I’m going to have to rethink that opinion.

Come on people. Get real.

I don't think that is totally fair, I believe most expected the bumps, I think most believe he will be a player at some point, I am one who felt he would have been better off with another year of junior to get stronger physically. The kid had a great camp and forced managements hand with play, and put them in a tough position.

 

[22Brad Park]

Good tournament, bad tournament, it really really doesn't matter. Kid went and represented his country. Good for him. It didn't work out. That sucks, but never mind. Some teams click in a short space of time, some don't. This one just didn't quite get there.

Back home Matty and the NHL journey continues. As has already been noted here, if it takes just a couple of weeks outside the system topped by disappointment to really knock him off his progression then it will only have exposed an immaturity in his game that was already there. But I doubt it. I think he'll bounce back ok. Curious to see when and how he slots back into the Bruins' lineup.

This is a good post.I can agree with this take.

 

[KrejciMVP]

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 !!!

sure but Canada loves to bask in the glory of winning that tournament and thats the expectations

 

[pgm16]

sure but Canada loves to bask in the glory of winning that tournament and thats the expectations

Can't disagree with that, not fond of that either

 

[TP70BruinsCup]

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 !!!

Exactly! They are just kids! The tournament has become a Christmas pressure cooker every year. That’s nuts

 

[BTO]

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.

He also set-up a ton of scoring chances that nobody could ever convert. He certainly had his problems but he was the best passer on the team and it wasn’t even close. Letang should have had Poitras playing with Celebrini, rather than Minten, who was really useless, for more than the 5 minutes he did. But yes, hopefully he learns from it and grows.

 

[BTO]

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.

Letang played him with Celebrini for the last 5 minutes of the 2nd period in an earlier game and they were completely dominant. Kinda makes sense to play your best passer with your best scorer but apparently not for Letang who saddled Celebrini with Minten for most of the tourney.

 

[goldnblack]

sure but Canada loves to bask in the glory of winning that tournament and thats the expectations

Think it would have been trivially easy for them to win if their three best 19 year olds were there (they weren't).

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Hopefully, he can improve on some things that held him back a bit, like quicker feet and puck movement. I mentioned earlier in the year that he could learn a lot from Marchand on edge work/balance and speed bursts. He is young and will only get better, tough luck with so many teammates that could not convert, why he was never with a pure scorer like Celebrini is beyond me.

 

[mar2kbos]

I know a lot of these kids are NHL prospects, but to me Potsy going to Canada isn’t about him finding his game there, it’s about the opportunity to play for his country before he can’t anymore. The game is way different. There is a lot more skating involved in Jrs than NHL. The puck does the movement in the NHL more than the feet. Playing within a system vs kind of playing system but a lot of individual rushes.

How these players work within an NHL teams system is where they will excel or not.

 

[JOKER 192]

Now that was good period Brick, see the difference.

Can't let a trip like that (Lindy) go in offensive zone

 

[Hairz]

Good experience for him, could have been great if he and the team performed better.

Assuming back with the big club (never say never), I hope he has a good start for his confidence and moral. I felt bad watching him and his body language - not a easy thing for a young player to go back to the WJC and under perform.

He has lots of takeaways and things to work on but a very bright future with the club.

 

[chizzler]

Relax Francis’. Nothing burger. Good experience. He’s harder on himself than he should be, which is good. Next……

 

[Alicat]

Glad he got the experience as well as a bit of a break from the grind on the NHL. I'm confident that he'll come back and show improvement and growth in his game as well as take a step forward in the leadership amongst the young guys.

The future is bright and he's a victim of the system not allowing him to play in the AHL. There has to be more of a conversation about each team getting one exemption per season for situations like this.

 

[Patdud]

I know Im an American, but the obsession with the WJC is pretty silly.

 

[Number8]

I don't think that is totally fair, I believe most expected the bumps, I think most believe he will be a player at some point, I am one who felt he would have been better off with another year of junior to get stronger physically. The kid had a great camp and forced managements hand with play, and put them in a tough position.

I have zero issue with what you write here and agree with much of it. This sort of post wasn't what I was getting at at all. I was more going for the kind of noise and grumbling that caused Jake DeBrusk to say this:

Jake DeBrusk on his advice for Matt Poitras as he goes through some ups and downs: "Just keep doing what you're doing. ... Don't look at the outside noise. I told him if he does, just look up my name and you'll feel a lot better about yourself."

Add to that some of the criticism that Poitras didn't go all Sidney Crosby in the WJC and that was what I was getting at in my post.

I agree that most expected bumps. The people I was giving a go were the one's who either didn't expect bumps or, now that Poitras has hit the inevitable few, can't not over react with silliness.

 

[BamBamCam]

Can Matty go to the AHL for a conditioning stint? I believe Shane Wright did this last year. If Matty is a healthy scratch for 5 games (in a row) I think he can be sent to the AHL for a 2 week conditioning stint. I could be wrong tho.

 

[bobber]

Folks have to keep in mind Poitras was playing against the best junior players in the world. He deserved to be on the top line on the Canadian team. Some of these players could step into major rolls next season because many of them are NHL drafted. There are some massive NHL stars that hardly got a point in this tournament when they played there. 17 year old Macklin Celebrini who plays at UB was heads and tails the best player on Canada. Number one pick in the upcoming NHL draft. Poitras is not the 2nd coming of Sidney Crosby who like Bedard is was generational player that only comes along once in a decade. Poitras is a solid prospect for the Bruins going forward if handled properly.

 

[ODAAT]

I know Im an American, but the obsession with the WJC is pretty silly.

can`t answer for others but while this is my favorite tournament, I`m not obsessed with it.

For me, it`s simply a passion for Junior hockey, held season tix in Halifax, before that, in Ottawa, moved to Victoria, BC, now have season tix for their BCHL team.

On top of that, for me it`s a great Christmas or holiday tradition, to sit and watch the best Junior players in the World compete.

 

[bme44]

I know Im an American, but the obsession with the WJC is pretty silly.

It is something I look forward to every Christmas season .