The overall quality and depth of the Boston Bruins’ prospect pool has risen over the last two years, which bodes well for the team’s short- and long-term future.
For much of general manager Don Sweeney’s tenure — 2015 to the present — the Bruins traded away a lot of draft picks to make roster upgrades, particularly around the trade deadline.
They’ve made more draft picks recently, though.
After making just one first-round pick in a four-draft span from 2020 through 2023, the B’s made a Round 1 selection in both 2024 and 2025.
In 2024, they took 6-foot-7 center Dean Letourneau at No. 25 overall. One year later after a disastrous 2024-25 season left the Bruins with the No. 7 overall pick, they selected Letourneau’s Boston College teammate James Hagens — another center.
Both players enjoyed a stellar 2025-26 campaign for the Eagles.
Hagens tallied 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 34 games and led the Hockey East Conference in scoring. Letourneau had 39 points (22 goals, 17 assists) in 36 games — a major jump from scoring zero goals in 36 games as a freshman.
Both Hagens and Letourneau were included in Scott Wheeler’s biannual ranking of the top 100 NHL prospects, which he published Tuesday at The Athletic.
Hagens is No. 13.
“He’s a strong athlete, with natural strength that certainly isn’t overpowering but allows him to stay on pucks,” Wheeler wrote as part of his Hagens analysis. “He’ll also stand his ground post-whistle. He’s well-conditioned and doesn’t tire over the course of games or shifts. He’s slippery off the cycle and has a nifty release. But it’s his combination of skating, skill and craft that defines him. I remain a big believer.”
Boston College head coach Greg Brown talks about the development of James Hagens.
Letourneau was ranked No. 81.
“His skating, shot and puck control in tight to his body all leap out as unusual for a player his size,” Wheeler wrote in part of his analysis on Letourneau. “He’s fluid through his crossovers and comes out of them lighter than you might expect.
“When you see him on the ice, his makeup is striking. He’s a great athlete for his size, with legitimate natural athleticism. When he finishes his checks (which he still needs to do more of), he can overpower opposing players at the boards or muscle through in control.”
Hagens has already signed his entry-level contract and should be able to make an impact for the Bruins next season after playing in two regular season and three playoff games last year. Letourneau will be one of the most exciting players to watch on BC next season.
The Bruins really need a legit top-six center on their NHL roster. Elias Lindholm has not played at that level despite his large contract. Fraser Minten could maybe become a top-six center someday, but he’s still only 22 years old. Hagens and/or Letourneau could eventually fill that role for Boston, and if that happens, it would be a huge benefit to the Original Six franchise.