Boston Bruins' Top Pick Dean Letourneau Speaks on Next Steps for Development
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LAS VEGAS – At 6-foot-7, Dean Letourneau is among the tallest 2024 NHL Draft prospects. Yet somehow, the Boston Bruins’ newest draft pick wants to get bigger.
“I think [my biggest focus in development] would kind of be to get bigger and stronger, maintain my speed,” the forward from Braeside, Ontario said. “I want to play a bigger boy’s game. I’m using my size more. I’m just still learning how to do that.”
The Bruins used the 25th overall pick to select Letourneau, picking in the first round for the first time since 2021. Boston did not have a first-round pick until Monday, after trading goalie Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators for a package including the 25th pick, which originally belonged to them before they traded it to the Detroit Red Wings in a package for Tyler Bertuzzi in 2023.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said he considered moving back to acquire more picks, but with Letourneau still on the board, he didn’t hesitate.
“What stood out is obviously the frame of the player,” Sweeney said after the first round on Friday. “And his skill set, to tell you the truth. Not so much just the positional side of things, but he moves really well at that size. He’s got very, very good hands, got an elite shot.”
Letourneau racked up 127 points (61 goals, 66 assists) in 56 games with St. Andrew’s College to lead the U-18 AAA Prep League last season. While U-18 AAA is not as highly regarded as the Junior leagues, Letourneau shot back at the notion he hasn’t faced enough competition.
“A lot of people say they don’t like the league that I played in because it was a little lower in the competition,” Letourneau said. “But I mean we played U-20 teams in Prague and Germany. We played U-20 teams in Canada. We played all the prep schools in the States.
“So our competition wasn’t as low as everyone kind of says it is.”
Regardless of the competition in AAA, Letourneau is set to take a big jump when he joins Boston College for the upcoming season. Coming off an appearance in the NCAA’s Frozen Four championship, the Eagles should provide Letourneau with an opportunity to grow into his game.
With his size and skill set, Letourneau will have a “competitive advantage against his peers,” according to Sweeney, but he won't be able to rely on his size alone when the talent pool deepens and his competition gets stronger.
Sweeney compared Letourneau’s path to that of Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson. The 6-foot-6 star forward played AAA in the United States before joining the U.S. National Development Team Program and following that with a two-season stint at the University of Connecticut.
“That’s sort of the trajectory you hope for,” Sweeney said.
In the meantime, Bruins fans won’t have to wait long to see their newest player in the Black & Gold, as Letourneau will participate in Boston’s Development Camp at Warrior Ice Arena from July 1-4. And he will waste no time on his way there.
“I brought my gear to Vegas, so I’ll be ready for that.”
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