Around the NHL - (2024-25)

Did Dean Letourneau have the worst D+1 for a 1st round pick in history? 3 points in 36 games in the NCAA is terrible. I was actually somewhat interested in him if we still had our original slot in the 1st round, thank god that didn’t happen and we got Solberg.
 
Did Dean Letourneau have the worst D+1 for a 1st round pick in history? 3 points in 36 games in the NCAA is terrible. I was actually somewhat interested in him if we still had our original slot in the 1st round, thank god that didn’t happen and we got Solberg.

A lot of high school prospects go to the USHL for their D+1 season and then to college. The most recent late, first round high schooler who went to the USHL in their D+1 season and then college that I could recall is RD Sam Rinzel. He went 25th overall to Chicago. Anaheim's RD Ian Moore took that route, a 2020 third round pick and spent four seasons at college. Moore is supposed to be signed before the season is up, in his D+5 season.

High school prep Dean Letourneau was supposed to be in the USHL this season and then Boston College afterwards. The path was to help acclimate to high level competition from high school prep to USHL and from USHL to NCAA. That was the plan, but BC unexpectedly had a roster spot open during the summer when Will Smith got signed by the San Jose on May 28th. From Dean's HF page, he really wasn't ready to go to the NCAA level this year b/c the competition jump was far to high for him, which is why he originally wanted to go to the USHL first.

I wouldn't be critical about this season in the NCAA against Letourneau. Plus, he was always a long term project for any team selecting him for the draft. Boston swung for the fences on Dean with the 25th overall pick b/c there were many mocks projecting Dean at the top of the 2nd round. Similarly enough, Rinzel was projected at the top of the 2nd round too, but Chicago took a swing with their 25th pick.
 
Didn’t notice that this is Ovi’s highest shooting% season. 4 more to go.

Speaking of Russians, looks like Kucherov will probably win Hart.

Still think it’s ultimately Draisaitl’s to lose. Be it injury or just relative ineffectiveness for McDavid, he’s carried the Oilers by himself for most of the year
 
Still think it’s ultimately Draisaitl’s to lose. Be it injury or just relative ineffectiveness for McDavid, he’s carried the Oilers by himself for most of the year
Valid, as is Mackinnon. Kucherov has more pieces around him but he's further ahead of them than Draisaitl is from McDavid this year. I think Draisaitl just gets the Rocket, but we shall see.
 
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Red Wings had a hot start after getting the new coach but now just keep falling with little to none hope for the playoffs again. Interesting case.

Blues are hot. Glad to see it. I think good chance they get Winnipeg and knock them out. Go Fowler! And the guys they got from Oilers - ah, chefs kiss :laugh:
 

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