Bruins are taking an “honest” approach to Matthew Poitras’ surgery.
The Boston Bruins announced Wednesday that forward Matthew Poitras has finished his rookie season after successful surgery on his right shoulder. The 19-year-old had just returned from injury before the NHL All-Star break, but after several conversations with members of the Bruins organization, the surgery was completed.
“There’s been a lot of discussion about what’s best for Matty Poitras,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said in a video the team released Thursday. “… (Don Sweeney) I talked to Matty, Donny and Matty talked to his family and the people who are advising him and we all agreed that this was the best way for him to move forward. I’m 19 years old and I’m spending my summer vacation preparing for next year. If he waits, his summer will be in jeopardy.
“This is clearly a disappointing result for Poitras, but it is clear that all parties prioritize his long-term prospects. The Bruins want him healthy next season, which means surgery is the best option for everyone.” Anxiety. “If we wait, it will affect his ability to get stronger,” Montgomery said. “If we wait until the playoffs are over in five months, he’ll be back in mid-November with no training, no strength, no conditioning. And he plays from behind, which I didn’t think was very fair to him and doesn’t bode well for the Bruins going forward.
The Bruins initially chose to call up Anthony Richard to fill the roster spot vacated by Poitras, but if Boston makes the postseason, several players could be expected to fill the permanent spots. Boston will miss Poitra, but it’s good that he’s healthy for the future. “He will play a big role in what we do next.”