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The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects! Every day in August we will be bringing you a complete breakdown of a team’s draft, and insights into their off-season movements thus far. Following this up in September, we will dive into every team’s prospect depth chart with fantasy insights and implications for the upcoming seasons. Check back often, because we plan on filling your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season long!

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By: Anthony Vincens

The Bruins continue to be a top contender in the Eastern Conference, however, they fell short in the second round of the playoffs against the eventual Stanley Cup winners, the Florida Panthers. As the Bruins have been a contending team for over a decade, it has been difficult to build up a good prospect pool, having to pick in the second half of each round, if the pick was not traded to improve the team.

The Bruins continue to be in a declining state of contention, with their aging roster, tight cap space and their shortage of young players with cheap contracts trying to make the team. It is safe to say that once the flame is extinguished, Boston Bruins fans will have dry years of rebuilding ahead.

However it is not the case yet and with Ullmark being traded, this opens up $5 million in cap space, paired with the departure of most of their UFAs: Jake Debrusk ($5.5 million), Danton Heinen ($2.5 million), Derek Forbort ($1.5 million). The cap situation seems to get better, but first we will take focus on the Bruins’ draft picks, the rest of the departures, the arrivals and finally some development standouts. Check in one month for part two of the 32-in-32 series to see who could be some players that are fighting for those last roster spots.

Draft Recap

Round 1, 25th overall – Dean Letourneau, C

Coming out of Prep School, Dean Letourneau exploded offensively with 61 goals and 66 assists in only 56 games for St. Andrew’s College. What makes him so appealing to the Bruins, is his height, standing at 6-7, he is the definition of a ‘boom or bust’ pick. He plays a physical game and has a heavy release. He does not have the best puck skills or hockey sense, however as his floor, he could be a unique third-liner, while his ceiling is a dominant first-liner. His potential will be clearer next season as he will be playing against much better competition in the NCAA for Boston College.

Round 4, 110th pick – Elliot Groenewold, D

Groenewold is defined by his pace of play, and aggressive style. He is strong at defending rushes and locking up the front of the net. He can also read plays well in order to intercept passes. A strong skater with flashes of playmaking ability from the blue line, there is a long development process ahead for him. He will be headed to Quinnipiac University next season.

Round 5, 154th pick – Jonathan Morello, C

Morello is a well-rounded player, he excels defensively and puts in a strong effort every game. Thanks to his defensive abilities, he acts as a third defenseman on the ice often. He is committed to Clarkson University for the 2025-2026 season, but it is still yet to be seen where he will end up playing next year.

Round 6, 186th pick – Loke Johansson, D

Johansson is a very physical defenseman who played in the Swedish junior league and had 13 points in 33 games. He also played 19 games in Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second pro league, where he recorded one assist. He is a good skater and very defensively sound player, however he brings little to no offense. He will be playing for the Moncton Wildcats in three QMJHL next season.

It seems like the Bruins’ scouts and Don Sweeney had a few things they were looking for: Size, as none of their drafted players is under 6-2, and seem to have a liking to players that chose the NCAA route.

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Offseason Moves:

Incoming:

Elias Lindholm

Nikita Zadorov

Max Jones

Joonas Korpisalo

Mark Kastelic

Jeffrey Viel

Riley Tufte

Jordan Osterle

Billy Sweezey

 

Outgoing:

Jake DeBrusk

Linus Ullmark

Danton Heinen

Derek Forbort

Matt Grzelcyk

Pat Maroon

 

Pending RFAs

Jeremy Swayman

 

Re-signed

Brandon Bussi

 

Boston filled their center and defense issues by acquiring both Elias Lindholm (7 years at $7.75 million) and Nikita Zadorov (6 years at $5 million) in free agency.

However, with the departure of Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen, there is a dent in the Bruins’ wing depth. This can however be easily fixed with players like Beecher, Brazeau or Jones, or even Matthew Poitras moving to the wing. The last important remaining question is the re-signing of Jeremy Swayman, which Don Sweeney has told the media is his main priority.

Development Camp

Matthew Poitras did make an appearance at this year’s development camp, as the team wanted him on the ice following his shoulder injury. He did not participate in game situations as a precaution, and to not rush his recovery.

It is easy to stand out when you are 6-7. Dean Letourneau impressed in development camp and although he is not close to making the roster, he showed impressive potential. Sweeney mentioned that he was the player they wanted in the first round and if he had gone earlier he would have traded the pick.

A surprising standout was Oskar Jellvik, a 5th round pick in the 2021 draft. He exploded in his second season for Boston College last year with 42 points in 41 games, playing on a line with Cutter Gauthier. Training staff thinks he still has another gear to unlock. He could end up being on the same line as Letourneau next year, developing chemistry between the two Bruins prospects.

Riley Duran also impressed at development camp, a 6th round pick in the 2020 draft, he ended last year with 11 games in the AHL and is expected to be given a bigger role next year.

Although the Bruins are having a hard time filling up the prospect cupboards with the mediocre draft position they are in year after year, the scouting staff keeps finding players that fit the team’s development staff’s vision.