Dean Letourneau's Boom Bust Potential: Evan Marinofsky's Scouting Report

The Boston Bruins swung big in the first round of Friday's NHL Draft in Las Vegas, selecting center Dean Letourneau with the 25th overall pick. Letourneau is a skilled center who with a massive frame standing 6-foot-7 and 214 pounds.
Earlier this week on the "Poke the Bear Podcast" New England Hockey Journal's Evan Marinofsky and Boston.com's Conor Ryan debated whether someone like Letorneau would be a good fit for the Bruins at 25.
Marinofsky watched and scouted Letorneau extensively this past season and says that while the big play potential is there, the bust potential is also very high. Ryan thinks that's just the sort of player the Bruins should be going after at this stage in the draft.
Letourneau has committed to Boston College and will play for the Eagles this fall. He tallied 127 points (61 goals, 66 assists) in 56 games for St. Andrews College (Canadian prep school) during the 2023-24 season.
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[@Nick-xg3dd]

Bruins needed this so badly so happy for this pick love love love this pick

[@brunocalisto5185]

Comes from a very competitive family he's a beast and young stud. He will learn the ropes. I've got a good feeling with this kid. Remember chara when he started look clumsy on the ice but still helped the Bruins win a cup in 2011. Go Bruins Go

[@bearforce187]

This is like when the Bruins top pick was in the 2nd round and they chose Mason Lohrei, not many knew who he was and the Bruins were scoffed at, but he is looking pretty good. Letourneau will also need some time to develop, but this guy I think will become a solid top 6 forward.

[@strangesightsinthesky]

love this pick by the bruins!!!they're at the point they need to take a big chance and seeing this kid's maturity,size and skill level his chances of working out are good!

[@BahamutBreaker]

Evan and Conor, why are you discussing Boisvert and Beaudoin as alternatives to Letourneau? Both Boisvert (pick 18) and Beaudoin (pick 24) had already been selected before the Bruins picked at #25.

[@timothyflanigan1777]

i have been saying this for years the bruins need someone that knows how to run a draft board. that is all they do. in the last 30 or so years they have to be very near the bottom with their draft record. it could be five or more years to know if Letourneau's was a good pick.

[@davidbaron8330]

All Centers that were closer to ready seemed to be off the board by 25.

[@SomeOne-uy4kj]

This fixes the Ullmark trade. What a great opportunity for Dean and Boston (College & Bruins) to all collaborate at some level. Put simply, ya don't get a player like Tage unless ya draft them.

[@SwaminarayanRaghuvirsinh7]

We swing for the fences and that's what Sweeney did. Gotta give him 3 years before judging the pick

[@rejean2744]

Brian Boyle ?

[@jacobsmith6660]

Sweeney has proven time and time again that him and his staff cant evaluate talent, outside of Mcavoy he either picks 4th liners or complete busts

[@marksibley4546]

I love the pick he will play for Canada at the wJC likly … he is from where Hockey is a religion he played against studs his entire life . St Andrews College …. Evan get a life

[@DipDigglerJR.]

Canadians do not call high school college…

[@BahamutBreaker]

Some regions in Canada do have the name “college” for some (mostly privately-funded tuition type) secondary schools. Other parts of Canada use the term “high school”, similarly to secondary schools in the USA.

[@bruins77_7]

If you notice him for all his shifts all the time, then he won't be available at pick 25😝

[@buckwing6743]

Garbage pick! Played in a garbage league.another reach pick by genius don. Greentree is a way better player and even sam oreilly is a better player. Wasnt even rated in the 1st round. If u think he will dominate at boston college its 100% not happening. And to top it off swayman still doesnt have a contract. How are u supposed to know how much $ you can screw up by signing old men when you dont have your #1 priority in goal signed.

[@vitaboys1220]

We trade Ullmark and you think we’re NOT gonna sign Swayman? You’re a genius man!!

[@jwvvvv]

Seems like you'd prefer to root for a different team.

[@SomeOne-uy4kj]

The Bruins didn't have another pick until the 4th round. So, they grabbed him early.

[@BahamutBreaker]

You, sir, sound very much like you consume way too much daytime sports talk radio detritus.

[@Kevlar67476]

I disagree. Very high potential.

[@kingaickoofloyaltyaboveall9896]

in b.c its called a secondary school but we call them highschool .. it's just the technical term

[@BahamutBreaker]

Some regions of Canada follow a traditional European convention for naming educational institutions. In Europe, many secondary schools (equivalent to grades 9-12 in the USA) are named “colleges”. Post-secondary schools in Europe are named “universities”, while in the USA, “college” and “university” are essentially synonymous, as both terms refer to post-secondary institutions. I believe much of South America follows the European naming conventions, and some parts of Canada, apparently, too.

[@kingaickoofloyaltyaboveall9896]

i wanted beaudoin utah stole him

[@BahamutBreaker]

I have no doubt that Sweeney was going to select Beaudoin. Utah gave up quite a bit by trading up to pick #24, but that’s a luxury Utah could afford. I think Utah had nine scheduled selections in the top 110 picks, prior to trading up to select Beaudoin. I would also wager that Colorado presented Sweeney with an opportunity to outbid Utah for that opportunity to move up, but Boston (very understandably) declined.