Bruins Need To Make A Decision With Matthew Poitras – Hockey Writers – Boston Bruins

On June 29, 2026, the Boston Bruins made a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Matthew Poitras.

Poitras’ three-year, entry-level contract, which pays him an average annual salary of $870,000, expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. He played most of the 2025-26 season with the American Hockey League (AHL) Providence Bruins, recording 44 points (13 goals, 31 assists) in 69 games.

Poitras has played 40 more games in the AHL than the NHL, and has been a regular fixture for the Bruins over the past two seasons.

Unlike Michael DiPietro, he was not lucky enough to make another appearance in the NHL despite having played 69 games in the league, recording seven goals and 27 points. He is not fit to mediate, which diminishes his power; the Bruins’ eligibility offer could push Poitras over the edge in early December.

That’s because the July 15 signing deadline has passed. The Bruins retained his rights as general manager Don Sweeney sent him a qualifying offer of $850,000 AAV.

However, if they promote DiPietro, why wouldn’t they promote the Poitras as well? He is a hard worker who can be the difference in the team’s nine.

Is Poitras a Trade Chip?

ESPN’s Rachel Kryshak believes Poitras is one Bruin forward who could benefit from a change of position. When this was written in May, the lack of urgency surrounding Poitras with the emergence of James Hagens made him spend money.

A team willing to develop him, stay patient as he develops on both ends of the ice, and give him opportunities to contribute offensively could have a center in his sixth.

Are Sweeney and the Bruins’ front office hoping to move on from a player they won’t let into a roster spot over Sean Kuraly or Elias Lindholm, who have been very disappointing in recent years?

Dobber Prospects believes he already has the makings of a second scoring option:

Two hard working forwards with the ability to use opposing fouls. Already shows plenty of pro-level practice and projects as a reliable NHL forward with secondary scoring ability. If Poitras fails to sign before Dec., the Bruins will have to consider other avenues for the center’s return value.

The forward selected 54th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft has a lot of untapped potential, thanks to bouncing between the AHL and NHL over the past few seasons. As a two-way forward, there are plenty of NHL teams that would pay a good price for Poitras.

What kind of value could the Bruins get back for Poitras? In accordance with AthleticFluto Shinzawa, the Bruins should be looking for a second round pick.

According to the NHL’s director of amateur scouting, given the name of disclosure to discuss a player not under the control of his team, it may turn out that Poitras is no longer a sure thing. If the Bruins view him as a trade asset more than a goaltender, the return of one man will not improve the Bruins’ 2025-26 playoff push.

“I wouldn’t trade him, personally,” said the director. “If they can get a second back, that’s a win for me.” – From ‘What I’m hearing about Matt Poitras and Mason Lohrei’s trade value,’ Athletic04/04/2026.

Bruins Need to Make a Decision

While Poitras appears to have a bright future in Boston, questionable front office decision-making is what could lead him to opt out of signing his qualifying offer.

It’s a troubling sign for the Bruins, who have learned from their mistakes by developing DiPietro, but don’t trust Poitras enough to give him a spot on an NHL wing until he’s ready for an assignment at center.

Whether or not we see him in another team’s uniform in the future may seem like the Bruins feel the trade will benefit him more than keeping him in Providence, where he continues to develop and prove he’s ready for the NHL.