The Boston Bruins were well represented at the Spengler Cup last season with the U.S. Collegiate Selects, and a couple more prospects will join the team in Switzerland for the 2026 edition of the prestigious tournament. After Elliott Groenewold joined the team last week, the management team made the unsurprising selection of Dean Letourneau from Boston College.
Players selected to this team get a rare chance to compete against European professionals before they go on to crack a pro roster after their college careers end. It gives the teams that hold their rights a chance to see them against former NHLers and grown men, and the Bruins will want to watch closely as they consider signing the massive center when the Eagles' season ends.
It feels like an environment where Letourneau could thrive in the tournament, as the European teams aren't the most physical, but even if they were, few players will outsize the power forward. The Bruins' front office will want to see how physically imposing he can be, regardless of age, because that could sway them on whether he plays in the NHL this season.
Truth be told, the most likely scenario for Letourneau is a successful Spengler Cup run, a hopeful lengthy run with Boston College, and then an amateur tryout agreement with Providence to end the season before signing his entry-level deal in the summer. The Bruins fast-played James Hagens' contract last spring, but they'll likely be a bit more patient here.
Could any more Bruins join Dean Letourneau and Elliott Groenewold at the Spengler Cup?
No North Dakota players have been added to the U.S. roster yet, but it'd be hard for them not to take a long look at Will Zellers. The Bruins' prospect currently has six points (four goals, two assists) in his first four games, and looked dominant at times during those first two weekends.
Zellers is another player the Bruins would like to see against pros, as he could also sign a pro contract once this college season ends. He also has some good favor with USA Hockey after being one of their lone bright spots at last year's World Juniors.
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