Immediately following the announcement of Matthew Poitras being loaned to Team Canada for the World Juniors, Don Sweeney, the General Manager of the Boston Bruins, paused to contemplate the rookie's achievements during this season.
"The league gets tougher, and he's navigating that in the first six months," Sweeney shared with reporters. "You can talk to a player about it, but they need to live it—going on the road, facing new matchups, realizing the teams are solid and closing you off."
Shedding light on Poitras's perseverance, Sweeney pointed out,
"It's a steep learning curve, and he's handling it well. Even after a few mistakes, he maintains confidence, learns from experiences, and applies those lessons."
Taking a prudent approach toward managing Poitras's workload during the rigorous NHL season, Sweeney highlighted the importance of observing signs of fatigue and evaluating the overall health of players.
Acknowledging Poitras's impressive performance, Sweeney backed Coach Jim Montgomery's choice to occasionally bench him, portraying it as a method to establish trust and camaraderie within the team.
"Players go through ice time adjustments; it's part of the journey. It's a learning opportunity, rebounding the next night, ensuring positive communication and preserving confidence."
Poitras is currently on temporary assignment with Team Canada for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship and is scheduled to rejoin the Bruins after the tournament, on January 5th.
