The Boston Bruins thought they had a steal when Matthew Poitras debuted in 2023-24. He stole a spot out of training camp after a breakout year in the Ontario Hockey League, and didn't look back for the season's first three months. He started to slow down midway through the year, which led the Bruins to loan him to Team Canada for the World Junior Championship, a move that proved to be costly for his health.
Poitras took a beating at that tournament, and it was the lingering effects that ultimately led to a shoulder injury, which would keep him out for the rest of the year.