The Bruins picked Dean Letourneau in the first-round of the 2024 NHL Draft but he didn’t pan out exactly how they wanted in his first year.
Before Boston picked Letourneau, he played in prep school at St. Andrew’s College in Ontario. He tore up prep school, totaling 127 points on 61 goals and 66 assists through 56 games in his last season.
The 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward played just two games in the United States Hockey League with the Sioux Fall Stampede.
After Letourneau was drafted to the Bruins, he opted to go to Boston College instead of staying another year in the USHL. Typically, the USHL is used as a way to develop players before they make the switch to either college or professional hockey.
With the 19-year-old’s choice, he struggled in his first season with the Eagles. He skated in 36 games, tallying three assists and a plus-6 rating. His production ranked at the bottom of BC’s freshman class. Meanwhile, current 2025 draft prospect James Hagens popped off the stat sheet.
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Boston general manager Don Sweeney admitted on Wednesday that Letourneau could have used an extra year in the USHL.
“We talked a little bit about what would be the best place in terms of Dean and in hindsight, I think we all agreed that maybe another year in USHL, a full year of USHL would have been the best path,” Sweeney told reporters on Wednesday.
Sweeney does believe that physically, Letourneau’s game did translate well to the college level. The Bruins prospect will be headed back to the Eagles in the fall, meaning he can prove himself more in his sophomore season.
“He’s been tested mentally and physically,” Sweeney said. “He’s putting in work now that he has an understanding of how much work it requires to play and that level and be successful.”
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