BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 23: General manager Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins prepares for the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at Warrior Ice Arena on July 23, 2021 in Brighton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Penhollow/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Boston Bruins have had a lot of regular-season success over the past few years, but it hasn’t translated to a lengthy playoff run. They’ve managed to stay in contention despite a bevy of on-ice personnel losses and re-tooled this summer signing a couple of lucrative long-term contracts with top-tier free agents.
With an aging core that knows how to win, Boston has elected to run it back once again over the next few seasons and should be formidable when the puck drops on the regular season this fall.
The Bruins didn’t have much of an opportunity to re-stock the prospect cupboards at this year’s NHL entry draft, however, they did manage to snag a first-round pick in the Linus Ullmark trade which they promptly used to draft the towering Letourneau.
The Ottawa Valley native played prep school hockey in Ontario this past season and led St. Andrew’s with 61 goals and 66 assists in 56 games. Scouts sometimes have difficulty assessing prep school hockey players relative to their peers, but given Letourneau’s size and length, it was hard for the Bruins to pass on a player who looks like a prototypical Boston player.
Boston selected the 18-year-old Groenewold in the fourth round of the draft after he appeared in 57 games for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL last season. The 200-pound, 6-foot-2 defenseman is committed to Quinnipiac University for next season and will look to continue developing his game as a defensive defenceman.
Groenewold is a player that could give Boston a real defensive presence on their back end as he is effective at clearing the area around his crease and is known to win puck battles in the defensive zone.
A fifth-round pick. Morello was a point-a-game player in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (57 points in 50 games). However, his playoffs were a different story as he tallied 12 goals and nine assists in 11 games.
Some scouts believe he could be just scratching the surface, while others wonder if there is an NHL role for him. Boston likely views Morello as a project, but given his solid skating and size, he was worth a roll of the dice in the fifth round.
Boston had to move on from Ullmark this summer but were likely hoping to avoid taking back a bad goalie contract which is exactly what they did. Boston acquired Korpisalo for Ullmark but did get him at a reduced rate for the next four seasons ($3M AAV) which could be an okay contract if the 30-year-old can return to the form he showed during the 2022-23 season.
Korpisalo has always been a talented netminder and a great athlete, however, he’s never been able to maintain consistency through a long stretch which is why he’s out of Ottawa one year into a five-year deal.
Boston also received Kastelic in the Ullmark trade. The 6-foot-4 forward could be a solid fourth line contributor for Boston going forward but shouldn’t be someone they count on for offense. Kastelic has been effective in the faceoff circle during his short NHL career (56.3%) and has no issue finishing his checks. He’s also very sound defensively as he uses his frame and reach to disrupt the opponents’ offensive sequences.
With all that being said, Kastelic has largely been a non-factor offensively throughout his NHL career and even last season he ranked 323rd among NHL forwards who played more than 200 mins at 5v5.
Lettieri struggled through injuries and inconsistency last season in Minnesota and could be a bounce-back candidate in Boston. He can skate and has a good set of hands, but his confidence appeared shattered with the Wild and he spent a good chunk of last year in the AHL.
If Boston can insulate him, they might be able to get more of our him next year, however, they might also see an opportunity to have him start the season in Providence to try and get him on the right track.
