C Dean Letourneau - St. Andrew's College, CAHS (2024 Draft)

[QJL]

Kreider is the exception, not the rule.

Physical specimens are the exception. I think Kreider and Letourneau are both top 5 physically gifted players in their respective draft years.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Wouldn't be too upset if the Flames took him at #28. Might as well take a couple big swings with 8 picks in the first 4 rounds.

Obviously a bit of a project but I like the way he thinks the game, and his defensive acumen is already quality.

 

[NinjaTurtle]

Wouldn't be too upset if the Flames took him at #28. Might as well take a couple big swings with 8 picks in the first 4 rounds.

Obviously a bit of a project but I like the way he thinks the game, and his defensive acumen is already quality.

Agree 100% with this. Want to see Conroy swing for the fences with the late first or a second.

I can dream about picking the next Tage Thompson at 28th, although he may be the next Mark Jankowski…

 

[Sombastate]

what are the actual chances he becomes an NHL player? I don't really know how to gage him based on where he's played. I know he's going to Boston college and I know he didn't do much in 2 games at the USHL.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I meant that Kreider turning out to become a 25-30 goals per season guy coming directly out of HS or HS-Prep is the exception, not the rule.

Most guys who are drafted directly out of MN HS, HS-Prep (anywhere) tend to become nothing of note, especially if they bypass the USHL. Higher profile guys who go this route nowadays tend to top out at Mark Jankowski (decent depth, nothing special) or Riley Tufte (AAAA type). At least with Casey Mittelstadt, he had a decent USHL sample size. Jay O'Brien (late birthday, worth noting) went from HS-Prep to the NCAA and completely busted, but it's not his fault the Flyers drafted him 25-30 picks too high.

There have been a growing sect of HS defenders recently. 2019, Rd 2 in Jackson LaCombe; 2021, R2 in Scott Morrow; 2022, Rd 1 (25th OA) in Sam Rinzel. There is also 2020 Rd 3 Ian Moore. It's still too early if they'll do anything in the NHL. LaCombe had his first full season in the NHL this season. Morrow just finished his NCAA career this season. Rinzel and Moore are still in college.

 

[TopC0rner]

what are the actual chances he becomes an NHL player? I don't really know how to gage him based on where he's played. I know he's going to Boston college and I know he didn't do much in 2 games at the USHL.

Despite not putting up points, I think he looked good in his USHL games. As good as a 1st rounder? Probably not. Good enough that I think he would have had a decent season in the USHL if he had played there all year (ie: PPG player).

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Despite not putting up points, I think he looked good in his USHL games. As good as a 1st rounder? Probably not. Good enough that I think he would have had a decent season in the USHL if he had played there all year (ie: PPG player).

I agree. He did well. Good enough to the point where you figure he’d have put up points in the USHL. Now obviously that doesn’t guarantee he’ll be an NHL’er. There are guys who put up points in junior as first year draft eligible who don’t even get drafted.

It’s very hard to approximate what Letourneau is. That’s the challenge. He played so few games of hockey where the level is high enough where you can actually assess him compared to hockey players who provide worthwhile competition. The range of outcomes is going to be big. You could get anywhere from a mediocre college hockey player to an NHL superstar. He has tools, but the question will be is there something obvious that is missing that won’t be shown in his games against low level competition he played this year.

I’m not a huge fan of this draft, so I’d be more than happy taking that swing on this player who I think has upside and real excitement in his outcome, but you have to be prepared that you could swing and miss with this pick.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Another thing worth noting is that he would have much less pressure on him if he's drafted in the 2nd round as opposed to the 1st round. Merely having a "1" next to your name will mean that fans (especially in bigger hockey markets) will be expecting a ton out of you, to be a top 6 forward at minimum. Whereas if you have a "2" next to your name, most fans will have tempered, lower hyped expectations. Best example is Morgan Frost versus Isaac Ratcliffe: Frost was taken just 8 picks ahead of Ratcliffe, but because Frost has a "1" next to his name, Flyers fans' expectations have been quite high, whereas with Ratcliffe, the average Flyers fans generally ignored him post draft.

 

[MS]

Another thing worth noting that he would have much less pressure on him if he's drafted in the 2nd round as opposed to the 1st round. Merely having a "1" next to your name will mean that fans (especially in bigger hockey markets) will be expecting a ton out of you, to be a top 6 forward at minimum. Whereas if you have a "2" next to your name, most fans will have tempered, lower hyped expectations. Best example is Morgan Frost versus Isaac Ratcliffe: Frost was taken just 8 picks ahead of Ratcliffe, but because Frost has a "1" next to his name, Flyers fans' expectations have been quite high, whereas with Ratcliffe, the average Flyers fans generally ignored him post draft.

The last, most similar situation to Letourneau is probably Mark Jankowski, whose entire career has basically been defined by the fact that he was a 'crazy' off-the-board pick who has never been able to meet the expectations associated with that and John Weisbrod's insane quotes about him at the time. If Calgary takes him in the 2nd round, he's just a generic 'solid pick'.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Joe Colborne or Tage Thompson
Nothing in between.

 

[User1996]

Wouldn’t be a thought for me in the 1st. I think this is a prime example of falling in love with the possibilities, however unlikely they are to occur. His USHL games were fine, but nothing to write home about.

 

[57special]

The next Riley Tufte

 

[TopC0rner]

The next Riley Tufte

I don't think his playstyle is similar to Riley Tufte. Letourneau skates better and imo has better hockey sense. His main problem is that he plays kinda slow (slow pace) that he'll need to improve to get to the NHL.

 

[Kipper933]

He's become much more disciplined this year and shows a strong defensive commitment, he seems very coachable. But he still let's that aggressive side loose here and there and can really hammer opponents; he covers a lot of ground quickly with his stride length and skating ability. And when you start thinking about him adding 30-40 lbs to his frame, it's really intriguing.

I think he has a safe floor as a 3rd line checking C, but there's a lot of upside for more. He shows some soft hands too, strong with puck control, pass precision, pass reception, smart playmaking/vision. You want to see him play more around the crease, because he's seems very effective at using his size around the goal. I think when we hit hit the teens stage of the 1st, teams will be looking at him closely.

 

[justHypnos]

Another thing worth noting is that he would have much less pressure on him if he's drafted in the 2nd round as opposed to the 1st round. Merely having a "1" next to your name will mean that fans (especially in bigger hockey markets) will be expecting a ton out of you, to be a top 6 forward at minimum. Whereas if you have a "2" next to your name, most fans will have tempered, lower hyped expectations. Best example is Morgan Frost versus Isaac Ratcliffe: Frost was taken just 8 picks ahead of Ratcliffe, but because Frost has a "1" next to his name, Flyers fans' expectations have been quite high, whereas with Ratcliffe, the average Flyers fans generally ignored him post draft.

Actually Ratcliffe was quite overhyped. I would say the most reason for what you said has more to do with the fact that Frost nearly doubled his production in d+1 while Ratcliffe was almost at half.

You won’t find a Devils fan more excited about Stillman vs Casey or a Habs fan, Mesar vs Hutson. Honestly I’m not even sure if the average Habs fan prefers Mesar over Beck

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Is there anything to make of Jack Good, his teammate with similarly great numbers?

He's a solid player that has some interest. Could be a later round pick.

Wouldn't be too upset if the Flames took him at #28. Might as well take a couple big swings with 8 picks in the first 4 rounds.

Obviously a bit of a project but I like the way he thinks the game, and his defensive acumen is already quality.

Agree 100% with this. Want to see Conroy swing for the fences with the late first or a second.

I can dream about picking the next Tage Thompson at 28th, although he may be the next Mark Jankowski…

Habs are likely to trade the Jets pick, but the Habs seem to like him. They've had a meeting with him earlier in the year and also at the combine.

Columbus if they trade up might be interested as Letourneau is from the Ottawa Valley and Timmins f***ing loves those kids because they're rare and he's from the valley himself.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Actually Ratcliffe was quite overhyped. I would say the most reason for what you said has more to do with the fact that Frost nearly doubled his production in d+1 while Ratcliffe was almost at half.

You won’t find a Devils fan more excited about Stillman vs Casey or a Habs fan, Mesar vs Hutson. Honestly I’m not even sure if the average Habs fan prefers Mesar over Beck

I'm talking about the average fan, not the prospect diehards. Blackhawks fans had expectations for Kevin Hayes, not big expectations for Ludvig Rensfeldt.

 

[TGWL]

I think if you have more than 1st round pick, you can make the case here to take the risk. If he falls to the early second and you have a decent amount of picks, again, maybe it becomes a no brainer. If you have a few selections in the draft it becomes pretty risky.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He’s linked a lot in these mocks to the Rangers. More so than any other team and they are linked to him more so than any other player.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

He’s linked a lot in these mocks to the Rangers. More so than any other team and they are linked to him more so than any other player.

Also going to BC next year, with the Ranger’s top prospect.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Also going to BC next year, with the Ranger’s top prospect.

They’ve also successfully drafted out of SAC too with Morgan Barron. If he didn’t turn into an NHL’er they might’ve been turned off from taking a Canadian prep player.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

They’ve also successfully drafted out of SAC too with Morgan Barron. If he didn’t turn into an NHL’er they might’ve been turned off from taking a Canadian prep player.

Barron was like a 6th round pick, so the risk vs reward is pretty much non-existent. There's a bit of a risk with drafting a player in the first round out of Canadian prep school.




On a different note, I wonder if the team that drafts Dean will draft his brother Jace. I believe he's still eligible and he's going to the NCAA as well. He is older, but he's still a big boy at 6'5 and might be worth it with a late round pick.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Barron was like a 6th round pick, so the risk vs reward is pretty much non-existent. There's a bit of a risk with drafting a player in the first round out of Canadian prep school.

Teams like to go back to paths they’ve had success with. Of course it’s not the same taking a 6th rounder as 1st rounder, but usually when teams go back to a well that worked for them in the past the storylines aren’t exactly the same.

 

[wetcoast]

Despite not putting up points, I think he looked good in his USHL games. As good as a 1st rounder? Probably not. Good enough that I think he would have had a decent season in the USHL if he had played there all year (ie: PPG player).

This is a swing and miss type of players to draft and someone will take him late first or early second especially if they have several top 64 picks.

He is a project and time will tell but the odds are against him being a value pick.

 

[UpsideHockey]

Dean Letourneau - UPSIDE Hockey 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile​

bit.ly/DeanLetourneau