How NHL draft experts graded Bruins’ unique first-round pick (2024)

The consensus was that the Bruins gambled. But the experts liked the bold move.

The Bruins picked Dean Letourneau, a 6-foot-7 Canadian center who spent 2023-24 in prep school, in the first round of the NHL Draft on Friday with the 25th overall pick that they acquired in the deal for Linus Ullmark. But he put up eye-popping numbers while showcasing skill and athleticism. Will it translate against tougher competition? That’s the question going forward.

But here’s what the experts thought:

The Athletic

Corey Pronman, The Athletic’s prospect guru liked the Bruins’ gamble.

“Boston takes a big swing at 25 on one of the most purely talented players in the draft. Letourneau is 6-foot-7, skates well for a big man and has legit skill. If he hits, he has the potential to be a top-six center. But it’s so hard to gauge his hockey sense and compete given he played prep hockey all season. Time will tell how it goes for him, but he’s a very good player and worth the gamble at 25.” Grade: B

ESPN

ESPN’s Ryan Clark didn’t grade picks but also saw it as a high-risk, high-reward gamble for a team who hasn’t had fertile drafts in recent seasons.

“Letourneau gives the Bruins extreme size down the middle. The fact he scored more than 60 goals and 127 points proves there is offensive upside, too. He’ll attend Boston College starting in 2025, so the Bruins can keep a close eye on his development. Perhaps the most fascinating part is that the Bruins are hoping to strike it rich with Letourneau given they’ve only had four draft picks since 2018 that have reached the NHL.”

The Sporting News

TSN thought Letourneau had to make better use of his size:

“When you’re 6-6, 214 pounds at the age of 18, you’re going to get NHL attention — and is there any team that fits that mold more than the Bruins? Dean Letourneau’s size stands out, but he also plays with a ton of finesse and range, a rare talent for a player at his build. There are some scouts skeptical of the Boston College commit given his playing competition, but he most certainly will get attention simply because of his frame. The Boston College commit needs to play more physically, especially if he wants a role on the Bruins, but he has the size for it.” Grade: B-

USA Today

“Dean Letourneau might be a big forward, but if his recent numbers are any indication, he can certainly score. We’ll have to see how it holds up at the NHL level, but this is a big swing by Boston.” Grade: B-

Clutch Points

The highest grade came from Clutch Points, who wrote:

“The Bruins reacquired this pick in the Linus Ullmark trade earlier in the week. And they take a player that simply screams “Bruins hockey.” Letourneau dominated Canadian prep hockey while flashing clear offensive skill. The level of competition isn’t the best, but his 6′7″ size combined with the offensive ability could see him turn into a very valuable middle-six player for the Bruins.” GRADE: B+

Bleacher Report

Bleacher Report called the pick a reach but still gave it a decent grade.

“Dean Letourneau is a reach at No. 25 (we felt he might be a bit of a reach at 32), but the Boston Bruins clearly feel they can be patient enough for the risk to pay off. He played prep school hockey this season, and he dominated—but he’s quite a raw player.

He is a very agile skater, especially for his 6′7″ size, which will serve him well as he works to refine the consistency with which he uses his high-end skill set.” Grade: B-