Mailbag: Does Matt Poitras have a future in Boston at center?

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Hi, Kim!

Yes, I do agree.

To your point, and the one made on The Skate Podcast - there's simply no spot for Matt Poitras in Boston with how their lineup is currently constructed.

While some forwards can effectively play both center, and wing - that really isn't the case with Poitras.

He's a center and he needs to be playing up the middle for his game to best translate.

Which there in lies the problem - where would he fit in Boston?

Well, he'd have to be a top 3 center based on skill set as he doesn't have a 4th line style of play or build.

Elias Lindholm is currently slotted in as Boston's top center and is in the beginning stages of a 7-year deal with a full no movement clause.

Pavel Zacha is Boston's 2nd line center and still has another full year left on his contract after this season.

Casey Mittelstadt - while playing wing at the moment - is another capable center with term who's ahead of Poitras on the depth chart.

Fraser Minten, as you mentioned, is a young player (Poitras' age) who has done well in establishing himself as Boston's 3rd line center.

Sean Kuraly is playing a role as Boston's 4th line center that Poitras is neither suited nor destined for.

Oh, and by the way - James Hagens is inevitably going to be in Boston possibly as soon as later this season.

Now this isn't me declaring that Poitras should never or will never get another legit chance in Boston, it's simply me questioning how.

To your point, Kim, unless one or both of Zacha, and or Mittelstadt are traded (which would be surprising) then there really isn't a path for Poitras to be a top 3 center in Boston in the short, or intermediate term.

Hell, there isn't even a role at center for Mittelstadt right now.

However, Mittelstadt, to his credit has adapted to wing better than Poitras ever has or is probably capable of doing.

Okay then, well what about Poitras getting called up due to potential injuries?

Sure, it's possible - but both E. Lindholm, and Mittelstadt have already missed significant time this year due to injury and Poitras stayed put in Providence.

Instead, it was Marat Khusnutdinov - another natural center ahead of Poitras on the depth chart - who showed that he was more than capable of stepping up.

At the end of the day, there's no rush to trade Matt Poitras and there's time to see how everything shakes out.

That said, I do think there's the real possibility that a current center in Boston's system will at some point be a trade chip and Poitras could end up being that asset.

E. Lindholm isn't going anywhere any time soon.

Pavel Zacha may be more likely to extend or resign in Boston more so than being traded or signing elsewhere as a free agent in the summer of 2027.

Fraser Minten is a part of Boston's present and future core.

Now one could ask ...

What if Zacha long term moves to wing and your top 3 centers are E. Lindholm, Poitras, and Minten?

Okay sure ... but what about James Hagens? Is he going to convert to wing at the NHL level so that Poitras can play center?

Just don't see it - nor should anyone want that.

Hagens' NHL ceiling is far higher than Poitras'.

If Poitras' game could translate to wing then there would be more long term flexibility and possibility for him in Boston.

But because that doesn't appear to be the case, his ultimate value to the Bruins may in fact be as a future trade chip until he provides reason for that opinion to change.

Poitras has 6 goals, 20 assists, and 26 points in 66 career regular season games played at the NHL level - and 20 goals, 33 assists, and 53 points in 60 career regular season games played at the AHL level.

He's not an offensive power house by any means but there's clearly something there.

Just not sure if it will come to fruition with the Bruins.

Thanks for the question, Bryan!

It's fair to ask but it just feels like if blame is to go around for a lack of offensive development from Providence to Boston it has to start with the players themselves and then Don Sweeney before Ryan Mougenel.

For example, let's take a look at some of Providence's top scorers in recent years and analyze why they haven't turned into impact NHL players.

Georgii Merkulov has 76 goals, 117 assists, and 193 points in 219 career regular season AHL games with Providence.

He was signed by Boston as an undrafted free agent and has been one of the more prolific scorers in the AHL since then.

To me that's Sweeney taking a good flyer on Merkulov - no blame for Sweeney there.

Where Sweeney could have some blame is not giving Merkulov enough extended call ups to the NHL where he could have a little more time to adjust to the speed of the next level.

Unfortunately for Merkulov - opportunities can be few and far between for fringe NHL players and he never really did much when given one tallying just 1 assist in 11 career NHL games played.

Merkulov works hard, produces and has great details at the AHL level which is a credit to both him and Mougenel - the reason his game doesn't translate at the NHL level is because he doesn't have the foot speed to make the same plays in the NHL that he does in the AHL.

Time and space closes rapidly in the NHL and having the ability to think and make plays at the highest pace is what separates every day NHL players to a fringe player like Merkulov.

Merkulov is a case where no one is really to blame for his lack of NHL success.

Sweeney singing him as an undrafted free agent was a solid move.

The player and coaching staff thrive in the AHL - but the player simply lacks the god given size and or ability needed to succeed at the highest level.

Maybe if Sweeney gave him a longer leash in the NHL and Boston's coaching staff gave him more impactful minutes with higher end players he could have done better, but probably only marginally.

Still, Mougenel isn't the problem in this case.

Let's look at another example.

Fabian Lysell.

Drafted 21st overall in 2021, Lysell was projected to be selected in the top-15, and in some cases top-10 depending on which mock drafts one read.

Sweeney drafting Lysell where he did was anything but a reach.

Since then, Lysell has accumulated 49 goals, 91 assists, and 140 points in 179 career regular season AHL games played.

Lysell can skate like the wind and has a solid offensive skill set.

But his problems are and have always been maintaining a consistent effort level, and playing with responsible, two-way details.

By all accounts, Mougenel has tried tirelessly to try and get the player to commit and buy in consistently but that it has been a struggle at times.

At a certain point, it falls on the player.

No one is asking Lysell not to play fast, or to rid of his offensive creativity completely - but he has to play less careless in both the neutral and defensive zones.

And until he proves that his all around game has matured - it will continue to be the same old song and dance with him.

Compete at all times, make plays when available and be responsible when they're not.

Mougenel and his staff have definitely done all they can to drill home these fundamentals over the last 3+ seasons with Lysell in Providence.

It's on the player now in my opinion.

There's no doubt that Lysell has the raw skill and ability to play in the NHL - but does he have the attitude and coach-ability?

Thanks for the question, Joe!

Speaking of Lysell ...

It's possible that the player recently changing agents could be a sign that he is unhappy and looking to hire someone who could better help facilitate change.

However the reality, is that Fabian is an RFA at the end of this season, and that he likely wanted to go in a different direction with his representation prior to any negotiations.

Does it make a trade more likely?

I don't really think so - the player and agent don't really have any leverage over Sweeney and the Bruins.

Unless Lysell shares an agent with another player of interest to Sweeney and that the agent could make things more difficult for Sweeney regarding said player - but not really sure that's how things work.

NHL GM's have to work with agents, and tolerate them but probably aren't in the business of being strong armed by them - especially regarding what one wants for Lysell.

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Thanks to all of you for reading and for those who submitted questions.

Until next week!