C Dean Letourneau - St. Andrew's College, CAHS (2024, 25th, BOS)

[MMC]

Welcome to Boston

 

[uncleben]

Welcome to Boston

I need a barf reaction emoji

 

[Bounces R Way]

Ullmark trade somewhat salvaged.

Kid is big, skates well, and actually can process the game at a decent level. Plus is going to a great program at BC.

 

[LPHabsFan]

Don't want to shit on the kid, but he's a less talented Michael Mccarron.

 

[VanIsle]

Don't want to shit on the kid, but he's a less talented Michael Mccarron.

Both drafted at 25.

Coming from a Habs fan it has to be true.

 

[BigHitter67]

Imo ..Likely a bust . Just hard to play as a 6’6 F in today’s modern NHL . I called Bust on Logan Brown way back when he was taken by Ottawa in 1st and doing the same now . I just don’t see a top prospect here ..

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

I can see (maybe hoping) the B’s taking a flyer on him if he makes it to 25. They need centers with size and potential upside even if hes unlikely to be that top 6 guy.

I’m so happy, this is the exact pick I wanted at #25 for the B’s.

 

[BostonBob]

I need a barf reaction emoji

Cheering for the Leafs I'm surprised you don't have a few different versions on stand by.

 

[Half Clapper]

if this guy was 6'1 would have he got drafted 25th?

 

[Bounces R Way]

if this guy was 6'1 would have he got drafted 25th?

Maybe if he went into biochemistry he would have cured cancer. Hard to say.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Ullmark trade somewhat salvaged.

Kid is big, skates well, and actually can process the game at a decent level. Plus is going to a great program at BC.

This nonsense about a lower-level league is not true; they played the top prep team in N.A., junior B teams, and U20 international teams. Versus Shattuck-St. Marys, in 2 games, he scored 5 goals. The kid handles the puck like a 6'1" player. Dean comes from a very athletic family. He did not go through major growth sprints all at once but grew into his physique slowly.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Good pick by Boston. I can’t hate. This was the pick I wanted for my team.

 

[Michael Farkas]

In this video, I talk about three main elements that Dean Letourneau needs to improve upon to really ramp up the odds of hitting his potential (which is pretty high)...as always, not a highlight reel, more of a shift by shift breakdown.



Plus, a horrible new thumbnail maker was found, so...I don't have to be an old fuddy duddy and make them in Photoshop anymore, I guess? Woo...

 

[jtechkid]

makes zero sense for him to go straight to Boston College - should went to ushl for a year and take his time in the development

 

[I am Bettman]

What interests me most about Letourneau is that he doesn’t use his size all that much. He plays like a smaller skill guy, so it makes me wonder if he is more likely to succeed than other huge guys because he isn’t even using his biggest advantage over other players. It’s sort of like a player having insane speed but he doesn’t use it, requiring his other skills to develop enough that he becomes an overall offensive threat when he finally figures out how to use his speed.

 

[Michael Farkas]

What interests me most about Letourneau is that he doesn’t use his size all that much. He plays like a smaller skill guy, so it makes me wonder if he is more likely to succeed than other huge guys because he isn’t even using his biggest advantage over other players.

Right. That's the trick of it. Like I said in that video a couple posts ago, if you don't use your advantage then you just don't have one. But he's not taking "exploitative advantage" of his situation, which gives me hope that he has more scalable upside to offer.

If he can incorporate better use of his frame to enhance his offensive capabilities, buy himself some time - particularly from a playmaking perspective - then you could really have something. That's also part of the reason I thought the USHL would have been a good next step - but I get it. That's a big commitment, it's a big number of games...I thought maybe the new coaching staff might have helped the situation, but if you're really down on your luck, you can always get booted back to the USHL haha

 

[Top cheese Gaz]

NCAA seems a big step for him, he seems to passive when he doesn't have the puck.

I hope he will have a good year with Boston but I have my reserve. The really went for the long shot here.

 

[bigmacbc]

NCAA seems a big step for him, he seems to passive when he doesn't have the puck.

I hope he will have a good year with Boston but I have my reserve. The really went for the long shot here.

Look- frankly, at prep, I think he wanted to share the wealth a little/discourage teams from just swarming him by not always being as aggressive off the puck. I also think that, in an environment like BC, they'll encourage him to play more of a team game in a context where he isn't as immediately dominant. I also think they may play him on the wing, at least to get him a little more acclimated.

The fact is that he's a super skilled dude who is 6'6. he's gangly and needs to improve his skating, but I think that in a good NCAA developmental environment, they can turn him into a pretty immediate contributor, if possibly in a 3rd line role. Also, I think that Jonathan Castagna did pretty well playing for Cornell, and Dean was way more productive than he was at that level.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He probably would've been close to 1PPG in the USHL this year. I don't think he'd have had like 10 or 15 points. I agree with everyone that he probably should've played a year in the USHL, but if you're a first rounder you probably shouldn't need to play USHL the year after you are getting drafted. Otherwise, are you actually a good enough current hockey player or is the selling point of what you are too much about potential?

 

[jtechkid]

only reason he’s first rounder is his huge size and potential - if he’s 6 feet prob not getting drafted . he just jumping multiple league league competition - reminds me of flyers first round draft pick usa prep school to providence back to juniors

 

[BostonBob]

only reason he’s first rounder is his huge size and potential

Every player in every pro sport is drafted based on their potential.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

He probably would've been close to 1PPG in the USHL this year. I don't think he'd have had like 10 or 15 points. I agree with everyone that he probably should've played a year in the USHL, but if you're a first rounder you probably shouldn't need to play USHL the year after you are getting drafted. Otherwise, are you actually a good enough current hockey player or is the selling point of what you are too much about potential?

How many points do you think he will get this year in the NCAA though? I’m expecting like 15 points in like 40ish games his freshman year.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

How many points do you think he will get this year in the NCAA though? I’m expecting like 15 points in like 40ish games his freshman year.

Floor of acceptability: 15
Median expected outcome: 20
Ceiling of what’s possible: 25

 

[I am Bettman]

How many points do you think he will get this year in the NCAA though? I’m expecting like 15 points in like 40ish games his freshman year.

I think 10-15 would be fine as long as he starts to develop some pace and learns how to incorporate his size into his game. Points aren’t really important yet, I’d prefer a development of style instead of a year where he produces 20 points but doesn’t become any more projectable to the pros.

 

[Saxon Eric]

Ideally he Centers the 2 other Bruins picks in Jellvik and Gasseau but realistically he's on the 3rd or 4th line to start, I can see massive growing pains and possibly 8-10 points
However he remains extremely intriguing