Matt Poitras underwent shoulder surgery in early February and is expected to return for training camp next season.

Matt Poitras knows it was the right decision to opt for surgery.

The 19-year-old Boston Bruin underwent right shoulder open stabilization on Feb. 7 and is now three weeks into an approximated five-month recovery. While Poitras was disappointed to see his rookie season cut short, he’s using his rehabilitation time to come back stronger next training camp.

“It’s all been pretty positive,” Poitras said Thursday. “For me, I’m going to try to use this time to put on a bit of size and where I might’ve been lacking in some strength, this is going to be a good opportunity for me to kind of make up for that.”

Poitras – who was able to shed the shoulder sling this week – hasn’t been back on the ice, but is around the team and Bruins’ facilities on a day-to-day basis.

As the B’s gathered for morning skate Thursday ahead of their matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights, Poitras did physical therapy, hit the gym – “either the bike or workout or something like that” – and got in on the team meal.

“It’s been nice to be around here and keep being in the rink,” Poitras said.

Poitras first went down Jan. 9 after colliding with Arizona Coyotes defenseman Sean Durzi. He left the game holding his shoulder and missed the next four contests. While Poitras returned for three games thereafter, he sat out of the Bruins’ Jan. 27 game against the Philadelphia Flyers right before the All-Star break.

The injury, though, didn’t originate from that hit in Arizona, Poitras said. It’s been more of “a recurring thing,” and started last season when Poitras was playing in the OHL for the Guelph Storm. Poitras said his shoulder felt fine during the summer and at the beginning of the year, but started causing problems around Christmas time.

“It wasn’t overly painful. Only when I would get hit and it would kind of just move a little bit – that’s when it kind of hurt most,” Poitras said. “I wasn’t too limited. I was wearing a brace – which obviously didn’t let me play exactly how I wanted to play.”

Through his 33 games played, Poitras posted 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) while fulfilling both top and bottom six roles. Before his injury, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery and his staff had implemented a rest plan for Poitras to balance the heightened demands of the NHL.

“I wasn’t expecting to make the team, and this year is kind of – it was a bonus to be able to play up here and learn and experience life in the NHL,” Poitras said.

Barring any setbacks, Poitras should be back to full health for the 2024-25 season in which the expectations will be raised for the emerging center. However for now, Poitras is just focused on getting better.

“It was the right thing for me to get this done,” Poitras said. “It wasn’t worth it to kind of risk further damage to my shoulder. Had to think about kind of long term.” 

Other Links:

Bruins Address Concerning In-Game Trend

Bruins Squander Third-Period Lead Again, Fall 4-3 to Kraken in Shootout

‘It’s in the Back of Everybody’s Mind’: Bruins Discuss Looming Trade Deadline