2022 Flames Second Round Targets: Matthew Poitras

Poitras may not have as much offensive flash as some other draft-eligible OHL players but he has many tools that I think will allow him to translate to the pro level. His ability to win the puck back and make the proper reads on the ice stand out. He plays with a quick active stick which allows him to disrupt cycles and break up lanes whenever he is on the ice. Poitras has the ability to draw defenders in and find teammates in the slot, creating high danger scoring chances for his team. While he has some aspects to work on in his game, most notably his skating, I think he’ll make an NHL team happy in the middle rounds of the draft.

Poitras is a hard-working, offensively skilled forward who utilizes his quick hands and vision on both sides of the puck. He has all the requisite offensive tools; a strong release on his wrist shot, good vision and passing ability, and quick hands in traffic, but it’s the pro-level habits already present in his game that will help him excel at the next level. He protects the puck well on the cycle, takes great angles in pursuit, and consistently comes away with contested pucks. Poitras has a habit of baiting opposing players into poor decisions and jumping lanes at the perfect time, routinely capitalizing on mistakes by the other team. He makes strong reads off the puck and competes hard, laying out to block a shot or taking a hit to make a play. He may never put up huge point totals but Poitras does a lot of things well to create chances and drive play for his team. I think he has a pretty safe floor as a top-nine NHL forward and there is potential for him to become more than that.

With 50 points for the Guelph Storm this season, Poitras finished third on the team in points. However, too many times this season I felt like Poitras disappeared a bit into the background of games. He had flashes of higher-end offensive potential, but not often enough to go higher than the third for me.