Matt Poitras, Here to Stay

After his nine-game "tryout" stint in the NHL, 19-year-old center Matt Poitras will stay with the Boston Bruins instead of getting sent back to Guelph (OHL). By playing his 10th game, this season will count on his entry-level contract.

BRIGHTON, Mass. -- Matt Poitras needs to pack his bags. 

Not for Guelph, Ontario, but for a permanent living situation in Boston. 

The Boston Bruins announced 19-year-old center Matt Poitras will remain with the team after proving he can handle the NHL. Poitras has five points (three goals, two assists) through nine games this season.

"His play, he earned it," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. "I think we're comfortable with him. There's still no guarantees here the rest of the year, but we feel that the way he's progressed that, for the time being, he's going to be a Bruin and he's helping us win hockey games, and that's the most important thing."

Once he plays in his 10th game, likely against his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, the first year of his entry-level contract will be "burned" off. Per NHL rules, if a player is 18 or 19 years old entering the season and does not play more than nine games, their contract "slides" to the next season. In other words, that season would not count against their contract.

That doesn't matter in Poitras' case anymore. He's here to stay, and Jim Montgomery and the rest of the Bruins staff are thrilled. Maybe a little too much, according to Montgomery.

"I've been told I've been too effusive with my compliments towards him," Montgomery said after Monday's 3-2 overtime win against the Florida Panthers.

This story will be updated when Matt Poitras speaks to the media later on Tuesday.