On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Do you ever get that feeling that a Monday truly feels like a Monday? It’s the beginning of the week and you can tell it’s going to be a rough start to it. Well, the Boston Bruins delivered a heavyweight punch of news that was shocking. They sent down forward Matthew Poitras to the Providence Bruins. He has only four points in 14 games this season for the Bruins. However, he has been one of the most impactful players on the ice.
Poitras Is Impacting the Game
It has been a tough go for the Bruins this season. They sit third in the Atlantic Division and with a .500 winning percentage, so it hasn’t been all doom and gloom. However, the team has been searching for an influx of offense and head coach Jim Montgomery has been going to the line blender more often than not this early into the season. The move is a shock to most and Montgomery labeled his reasons for it.
“More of an impact on the game, making more plays, understanding our structure.”
The coach has his reasons and rightfully so. Although, Poitras is impacting the game the best on the Bruins and is arguably one of the most impactful forwards on this roster.
During five-on-five play, Poitras has the best Corsi for percentage (53.41) and is helping control the play more often than chasing it. Also, he has the best expected goals for percentage (xGF%) when on the ice with 56.06. Sure, the team has scored below their expected rate despite the offensive generation, but it’s there. What he’s done is also create quality chances and dominate the high danger areas of the ice. When on the ice, the Bruins are out attempting the opposition 22-11 and have three goals from the area.
This sounds like a player you’d want to keep around. Is the production there? Not exactly. You can say that for a lot of players on the team right now. But Poitras is impacting the game and is making an all-around effort that benefits the team at five-on-five. It’s an area that the Bruins have struggled in this season, so sending him down is a puzzling thing.
Does Poitras benefit from this at all?
How This Benefits Poitras
The most important thing is player development. It is not to say that Poitras is not ready for the NHL, because he certainly has shown he can play at this level. Although, the Bruins sending him to the minors can help him round out his game and work on the things he needs to work on.
With the inconsistent lines, it’s hard for Poitras to find and develop any form of chemistry. That can also be said about the rest of the roster. Also, he is not playing top minutes nor is he getting top power play time. Given his impacts offensively, he is a player you want to put in all offensive situations and he simply is not getting that opportunity.
Down in Providence, not only will he get that opportunity but he will also be playing with a skilled winger in Fabian Lysell. If he is not going to get it here, getting it in Providence is good for his overall game and confidence.
So where do the Bruins go from here?
What’s Next for the Bruins
The Bruins will now flip the script and try and find new ways to generate offense. They are coming off a game where they had zero shots on goal in the third period and fired only seven shot attempts in all situations. They need offense, but they also need consistency. The roster is the roster at this given rate, but something has to give somewhere.
The Bruins are moving Morgan Geekie to the top line alongside Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak. The one line that has impressed is Brad Marchand, Justin Brazeau, and Elias Lindholm. The most valuable line for the Bruins in the fourth line is back together.
Also, with Poitras going down, the team has recalled Max Jones. He is going to be the extra forward, but you would much rather have Poitras in the mix than anything.
Sending Poitras Down Is the Wrong Move
Sending Poitras down is the wrong move. For a team that is struggling mightily at five-on-five and offensively as a whole, sending down your best offensive player impact-wise is a puzzling decision. The roster is the roster given the way general manager Don Sweeney constructed it, but Poitras needs to be part of the puzzle, not the piece that went missing. You hope the demotion is something that helps grow his game, but also see that the big club roster can figure things out. It is going to be something to monitor as we advance to Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Blues.
More must-reads:
- Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb sends strong message after tempers flare at training camp
- Commanders' Jayden Daniels discusses Terry McLaurin's holdout amid contract dispute
- The 'Most NBA games played' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Chicago Blackhawks reportedly set to trade 25-year-old goaltender to Stars rival, Edmonton Oilers
Calder Trophy winner faces another unprecedented season with Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson cemented himself in hockey history with his Calder Trophy-winning rookie season last year. His 60 assists tied Larry Murphy for the most ever recorded by a rookie defender, while his 66 total points ranked fifth in history. Hutson’s company on the leaderboards is full of Hall of Fame talent, including Chris Chelios (50 A, 56 TP as a rookie), Nicklas Lidstrom (49 A, 60 TP) and Ray Bourque (48 A, 65 TP). But despite the warm company, Hutson still faces a task unlike any of his highly-touted peers. He has to show he can follow it up. Many former high-scoring, rookie defenders have earned their keep on both ends of the ice. Hutson breaks that mold. He is the first to ever cross the 60-point — or, even the 50-point — mark while recording a negative plus-minus. The only players to manage similar feats were Phil Housley, Quinn Hughes and Moritz Seider — who each finished their rookie campaigns short of both the 50-point mark and positive plus-minus. That certainly speaks to the high-event ice time Hutson experienced, but it shouldn’t come as a direct attack on his defensive acumen. Instead, it’s a testament to Hutson’s deeply unique style. He’s a hyper-mobile defender, who uses crafty stickhandling and skillful skating to sneak into the tightest spaces between opponents. Many defenders have excelled with those talents, but few are rarely look as gifted as Hutson. That degree of finesse helps Hutson make up for an otherwise scrawny frame — though one not lacking any physical gumption — in a way that seems reminiscent of former greats like Housley. But where Housley went on to net 1,232 career points, the next highest-scoring defenseman under the height of 5-foot-11 was Randy Carlyle, who finished his career with 647 points. That’s an extreme gap, not helped by the fact that Caryle weighed in at over 200 pounds. The NHL is not built to support nimble and skillful offensive-defensemen. It’s too heavy and physical of a league. And yet, Hutson showed no signs of struggling as he stomped his way to Montreal’s top defender role last season. He blazed that path with the same agility, instinct and cool-headedness that’s made him successful as far back as youth hockey. Then again, NHL game planning is better than ever as teams begin to lean on video tracking and analytics to support their pre-game prep. Many of Hutson’s break-ins came on the outskirts of the offensive zone, and his scoring chances from creative passes after working into space on the boards or behind the net. As teams adjust for that, Hutson will face the imposing question of if he can adjust his game too. Putting on more weight and continuing to improve at getting back on defense could go a long way towards building the full, all-three-zones ability that could push Hutson’s game to a truly special level. But if teams catch on to how to stop him before he has time to take the next step, he could quickly struggle to make the same plays he always has. That will be the task that faces Hutson next season — and its result could define Montreal’s blue-line for years to come. Hutson is up for a new contract next summer, and could sign an extension at any point now that July 1 has passed. Of the nine other defensemen to score at least 60 points in their rookie year, seven have gone on to play in over 1,000 NHL games. The other two still managed hundreds of games of their own (Reed Larson, 904; Barry Beck, 615). And yet, it’s hard to think any have deviated from the view of average NHL defender quite like Hutson. He’s among tremendous company, and seems headed for many years of incredible hockey after such a strong start. But it seems that the true, special aspects of Hutson’s career will be defined by how his sophomore season goes. In proving he can continue to perform at All-Star levels, Hutson will not only earn what’s sure to be a lofty contract next summer, but could cement his spot in Montreal’s top role for the next seven or eight seasons. He’s now joined by fellow, flashy company in Noah Dobson — and could get the support from more defensively-focused peers like Kaiden Guhle, Alexandre Carrier and Mike Matheson. The extent to which that supporting cast can boost Hutson to an encore performance will make his 2025-26 campaign much-watch hockey, even after he’s earned the Rookie of the Year title in a special Calder Trophy race.
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani ties franchise record with HR vs. Twins
MLB's midseason break was kind to Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter and starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani. On Wednesday, the three-time MVP tied a Dodgers franchise record with a home run in his fifth consecutive game, taking Minnesota Twins right-handed starting pitcher Chris Paddack 441 feet to centerfield on an 0-2 79 mph curveball in the bottom of the first inning. Ohtani entered the All-Star break with 32 home runs but had just two in his 12 previous games before beginning his current streak. He's appeared in 101 of L.A.'s 103 games, putting him on pace for 159 games this season. If Ohtani continues at his home run trajectory, he'll set a personal record for single-season home runs, breaking the record he established last season, his first with the Dodgers. Per ESPN Bet, Ohtani (-1800) is an overwhelming favorite to be named NL MVP for the second consecutive season. With every home run hit, his odds of receiving a fourth overall MVP award likely increase. Also helping Ohtani's case is his return to the mound after not pitching a season ago while rehabbing from 2023 surgery. The Dodgers have slowly eased him back, with Ohtani throwing 12 innings in six starts, allowing nine hits and two earned runs with 13 strikeouts. Per Baseball Savant, he ranks in the top six percent in average fastball velocity (97.8 mph), a promising sign as he continues his progression. While the Dodgers keep him on a pitch count, Ohtani didn't need much warming up at the plate following the in-season break to find his swing. Some might argue he's already in postseason form.
Jaxson Dart Faces Harsh Comparisons Following Troubling Giants Training Camp Debut
Rival fans began drooling after Jaxson Dart’s horrible start at New York Giants training camp. They quickly compared Dart to Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen’s previous draft bust. All 32 teams officially kicked off their offseason training camp on Tuesday, July 23, including the Giants. Fans flocked to the East Rutherford facility to catch a glimpse of the rookies, especially Dart. They all wanted to find out the reason why Daboll and Schoen picked the Ole Miss graduate over Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Dart’s very first pass of 11-on-11 drills was an interception by third-year cornerback Nic Jones. Video footage showed Dart making a rookie mistake. Jones caught Dart staring at the receiver, which made it easier for him to figure out the play. The crowd let out a collective sigh as Jones ran to the end zone for a touchdown. Dart’s very first contribution in his first-ever training camp turned out to be a pick-6, which would surely dent his confidence. NFL fans compare Jaxson Dart to a Giants draft bust after his training camp mishap For the longest time, the Giants were the favorites to draft Shedeur. Deion Sanders gave his blessings, and the New York media were eager to cover the young quarterback who had set college football on fire with his passing and flamboyant personality. The status quo changed after the pre-draft visit. All of a sudden, the Giants were no longer interested in Sanders. Their focus had shifted to the dark horse of the draft, Jaxson Dart. This move by the Giants’ top management was a shocker for many as Sanders seemed to be a perfect fit in the Big Apple according to many. Schoen traded up in the first round to select Dart, while Sanders slipped to day three. Initially, it created a lot of ruckus. Anticipation grew after reports from the first and second phases of off-season camp were satisfactory. Unfortunately, that perspective must have taken a massive hit after Dart’s pick-6 on day one of the main training camp. Fans rarely chalk off such incidents as rookie mistakes. A wave of trolls filled X right after the footage went viral. Most compared Dart to the Giants’ previous starting quarterback, Daniel Jones. The former first-rounder agreed to terminate his $40 million per year contract after winning less than 50% of his games for the Giants. Jones threw 47 interceptions during six seasons in New York (averaging 7.2 INTs per year, with 15 during his rookie campaign being the worst of the lot). Brian Daboll passes verdict on Jaxson Dart It was clear from the start that Dart needed to polish his skills further. Fortunately, GM Schoen made the smart move of filling the quarterback room with a veteran presence. GM Schoen signed free agents Jameis Winston to a two-year deal and Russell Wilson for the 2025 season. Both players had significant game time last year. Wilson started for the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Winston deputized for injured Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. According to the Associated Press, Daboll is going to rely on experience over youth. After day one of the practice, he picked Wilson as his starter for the week one fixture of the 2025-26 NFL season. These guys will be out here competing, but Russ is our starter. Brian Daboll said Picking Wilson over the other two appears to be a sound choice. Even though his tenure in Pittsburgh ended with a string of losses, he is their best bet to win games. It’s a great opportunity for Dart to learn from a Super Bowl winner. If everything goes according to plan, then perhaps the Giants can finally turn their fortune around after several seasons of mediocrity.
Telling hint emerges about leader in Browns QB race
A clear frontrunner appears to be separating himself from the pack in the Cleveland Browns’ QB room. Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett handled all of the first-team offense reps in 11-on-11 drills during the first day of training camp on Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN reported. Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel received the second-team reps, Shedeur Sanders received the third-team reps, and Joe Flacco did not receive any 11-on-11 reps at all, Oyefusi added. Cleveland has one of the most hotly-contested and uncertain QB races of the NFL offseason. With Deshaun Watson (Achilles) set to miss the entire 2025 season, the Browns acted quickly this offseason by trading for Pickett, re-signing Flacco, and then selecting both Gabriel and Sanders in the NFL Draft. Pickett, 27, indeed looks like the best option for Cleveland right now. He has already made 25 total starts in the NFL and won a Super Bowl last season as Jalen Hurts’ backup on the Philadelphia Eagles. That gives Pickett a leg up over the rookies Gabriel and Sanders, and he is also far younger than the 40-year-old Flacco. Previous reports during OTAs suggested that Flacco, who made a handful of starts for the Browns in 2023, was looking surprisingly good under center. But more recently, some Cleveland players were predicting that Pickett would end up as the ultimate winner of the race. Meanwhile, Gabriel had reportedly looked a little rough over the last couple of months, and Sanders still appears to have plenty of work to do as well (though he has received rave reviews from some notable team figures). With a rookie unlikely to get the starting nod to begin the year, it may be a two-horse race between Pickett and Flacco (with Pickett now seemingly pulling away).
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
