The Boston Bruins are walking a tightrope with their young core, and the fall could be ugly. Two key players, Matthew Poitras and Frederic Brunet, face a precarious situation where they might not make the roster without losing their spots to another club entirely. This is a high-stakes gamble that puts the team’s future at risk right out of the gate.
The Waiver Trap
Both Poitras and Brunet must clear waivers if the Bruins decide to send them down to the AHL, which is a dangerous game of chance. According to reports, these two players must clear waivers for the first time, meaning any team in the league can claim them instantly. If they get picked up, the Bruins lose them forever, and that is a massive blow to the organization.
Poitras signed a one-year, two-way deal for $850,000 just before training camp opened, but that contract does not guarantee him a spot in Boston. The front office did not make any long-term commitments to him, even though he showed promise during his rookie season. According to Per Causeway Crowd, the team found no justification to invest in Poitras beyond this single season, so his future remains uncertain.
Roster Math Gets Ugly
The numbers do not look good for Brunet either, as he is one of ten blueliners fighting for just seven spots on the opening night roster. There are only six spots available for defensemen at the beginning of the season, which leaves very little room for error. While Charlie McAvoy’s six-game suspension might open a door for Brunet to sneak onto the roster early, relying on a suspension to save a prospect is a shaky plan.
Poitras has the stats to back up his case, having appeared in 69 games for Providence and recording 44 points last season. He was fifth on the team in points and tied for the lead in power-play goals, yet the Bruins still hesitate to lock him in. The team extended him to a one-year deal, but the cap hit of $850,000 suggests they are still testing the waters rather than committing fully.
A Fork in the Road
The next two weeks will decide where these players begin the 2026-27 season, and the clock is ticking fast. Training camp is shorter this year, with preseason games cut down from six to four, giving less time to prove their worth. If Poitras and Brunet do not make the cut, they risk being claimed by another team while trying to clear waivers.
Sweeney and the front office insist there is a spot there for Poitras if he wants it, but their actions say otherwise. They avoided a long-term deal despite his breakout AHL season, signaling that they are ready to move on if he fails to stick. The Bruins could lose two promising young players to a waiver wire shuffle, and that is a disaster for a team trying to build depth.
