Boston Bruins Recall Matthew Poitras, Charlie McAvoy Moves to IR

Boston Bruins center prospect Matthew Poitras participated in the team’s morning skate on Tuesday, signaling his recall from AHL Providence, per Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald. The Bruins swiftly confirmed his return, also announcing the recall of defenseman Michael Callahan from Providence. Meanwhile, No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy was placed on injured reserve (IR) with an undisclosed injury. To make room on the roster, center Mark Kastelic, sidelined with an upper-body injury, was moved to IR. Additionally, defenseman Hampus Lindholm, out since November 12 with a lower-body injury, was transferred from IR to long-term injured reserve (LTIR) to provide salary cap flexibility.

The flurry of roster moves comes ahead of a crucial matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Boston on the edge of playoff contention. The Bruins have dropped to 11th in the Eastern Conference in points percentage after a 3-6-1 stretch over their last 10 games. Their current standings position is largely buoyed by having played more games than their competitors. The Blue Jackets and Senators could leapfrog Boston in the standings if both secure wins tonight against the Flyers and Islanders, respectively.
Poitras, expected to center the third line, will play his first NHL game in over two months, according to Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic. Veteran center Charlie Coyle, dealing with an illness, is a game-time decision but is unlikely to play, head coach Joe Sacco told Joe Haggerty of the Boston Sports Journal.

Selected 54th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, Poitras made a strong impression last season with a standout training camp, earning a roster spot and recording 15 points in 33 games before undergoing shoulder surgery in January. This season, he managed four points in 14 games after returning from an undisclosed injury before being reassigned to Providence for further development.

Poitras has shined in the AHL, registering 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 23 games. While it remains unclear if the Bruins will keep him on the roster once Coyle and Kastelic recover, the 20-year-old Ontario native continues to show promise as a long-term asset for Boston.
Defenseman Michael Callahan, 25, is likely to serve as a healthy scratch, with Parker Wotherspoon expected to start. Callahan, a 6’2” left-shot defenseman, has yet to make his NHL debut but is in his fourth season with Providence, where he has tallied six points and a plus-one rating in 35 games while serving as an alternate captain.

Originally drafted in the fifth round by the Arizona Coyotes in 2018, Callahan’s signing rights were acquired by Boston in 2022. With his current contract set to expire, he’s eligible for Group VI unrestricted free agency this summer.

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While the moves for Kastelic and Lindholm were procedural, McAvoy’s placement on IR was unexpected. Sacco revealed that the star defenseman is dealing with a “nagging injury” and will be sidelined for at least a week to evaluate his recovery. McAvoy, eligible to return next Monday against the Sharks, will miss at least two games.

At 27, McAvoy is enduring his most challenging offensive season, with 20 points in 45 games—a career-low 0.44 points-per-game average. However, his even-strength possession numbers have improved to a 51.2% Corsi For (CF%) after last season’s disappointing 48.6%.
McAvoy’s offensive struggles have mirrored Boston’s declining power play, which ranks third-worst in the NHL at just 13.2%. Only the Anaheim Ducks and New York Islanders have a lower conversion rate. The Bruins will need to address these shortcomings as they fight to remain in the playoff picture.

Image Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Imagess