One of the more unheralded prospects in the system, Pelosi was arguably one of the top underclassmen in college hockey down the stretch in 2024-25.<\/p>\n
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After a slow start with Quinnipiac, Pelosi had 11 goals and eight assists over his final 23 games. <\/p>\n
If he can prove that his second-half surge was no fluke, Pelosi could project in a middle-six role. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe put on a solid 10 pounds last year,\u201d Bruins scout Parker MacKay said. \u201cHe\u2019s taking pucks to hard areas, and he also values his defending, and that\u2019s certainly the pieces of his game that we value.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the Bruins placing a premium on centers and skilled forwards in the last few drafts, it should come as little surprise that their crop of defensemen has been whittled a bit. <\/p>\n
But an offensive-minded defenseman such as Brunet is worth monitoring. <\/p>\n
Brunet has size at 6 feet 3 inches, but his calling card is playmaking. The 21-year-old put it all together last season with Providence, playing heavy minutes while adding five goals and 20 assists over 69 games. <\/p>\n
Brunet needs more seasoning in the AHL, but the Quebec product is likely going to be the first blue-liner called up when the injury bug inevitably hits. <\/p>\n
This feels like make-or-break time for the 24-year-old Merkulov. <\/p>\n
Signed as a college free agent in April 2022 after just one season at Ohio State, Merkulov has long been productive in the AHL. <\/p>\n
In 201 career games with Providence, Merkulov has 70 goals and 109 assists, serving as one of coach Ryan Mougenel\u2019s most effective top-six talents. <\/p>\n
Even though the Russian isn\u2019t the most imposing figure at 5-11 and 183 pounds, he has regularly shredded AHL defenses with a sharp one-timer and soft hands. <\/p>\n
Despite talent with the puck on his stick, Merkulov\u2019s speed and processing ability have often been behind NHL pace, leading to quality looks but few results.<\/p>\n
Merkulov re-upped on a one-year contract this offseason, but if he doesn\u2019t make the team out of camp, he\u2019ll have to clear waivers to be sent back to Providence. <\/p>\n
On paper, Letourneau checks all of the boxes of the type of talent the Bruins should covet. <\/p>\n
A center? Check. A 6-7 frame? Check.<\/p>\n
Add in the video-game-like stats against prep competition at St. Andrew\u2019s College in 2023-24 (127 points across 56 games), and it should come as little surprise that the Bruins selected Letourneau with 25th overall pick in the 2024 draft.<\/p>\n
After drawing comparisons to Tage Thompson, Letourneau validated his standing as a \u201cproject\u201d by struggling in his first season at Boston College. <\/p>\n
In hindsight, the decision to accelerate Letourneau from the prep level to Hockey East in one season was a misstep, as he could have benefited from a year in the USHL. <\/p>\n
But despite his lackluster production, Letourneau has said and done the right things this offseason. <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe honestly handled it really well,\u201d Bruins player development coordinator Adam McQuaid said. \u201cThere were days of disappointment where he felt like he could and wanted to impact more. <\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the year, he was like, \u2018I\u2019m going back to BC. I\u2019m going to compete for a spot.\u2019 Nothing\u2019s going to be given to you. He knows that, and it says a lot about him.\u201d <\/p>\n This season will be critical if Letourneau wants to reassert himself as a top prospect. He has strong puck skills for a player his size, but he needs to utilize that frame more. <\/p>\n Another BC forward, Moore stands as a potential middle-six regular if his steady two-way game continues to mature. <\/p>\n The No. 51 pick in the 2025 draft, Moore ranked second on the US National Team Development Program U-18 team with 59 points (27 goals, 32 assists) in 64 games last season. <\/p>\n The primary question for Moore is whether his offensive talents can continue to evolve as he braces for tougher competition in the years ahead.<\/p>\n If Moore\u2019s scoring capacities plateau, he could project as a third-liner. If he can stuff the stat sheet at Chestnut Hill and become a 50-point NHLer, he has the makings of a very useful second-line center. <\/p>\n One of the top prizes secured at the trade deadline in March, Zellers is a potential middle-six scoring winger.<\/p>\n The 2024 third-round pick (by the Avalanche) had a standout season in the USHL, earning Player of the Year honors after scoring 44 goals and 27 assists across 52 games with Green Bay. <\/p>\n Zellers is not imposing at 5-10, 175 pounds, but he is a smart winger who generates scoring chances by operating in high-danger ice and finding soft areas. <\/p>\n The Minnesota native \u2014 who said he models his game after Jake Guentzel \u2014 is set to play at the University of North Dakota in 2025-26. <\/p>\n \u201cJust on the ice \u2014 his natural instinct for scoring? He doesn\u2019t need many opportunities, and he capitalizes on them,\u201c said McQuaid. \u201dI think he\u2019s driven that way.\u201d<\/p>\n No Bruins prospect has seen his stock rise over the last few months as much as Locmelis.<\/p>\n A 2022 fourth-round pick, Locmelis initially projected as a two-way, fourth-line player. <\/p>\n But after registering 14 points over 30 games as a freshman at UMass in 2023-24, the Latvian-born forward broke through with eight goals and 25 assists with the Minutemen last season. <\/p>\n He then joined the Providence Bruins in the spring and recorded three goals and nine assists over just six games. <\/p>\n Locmelis closed out his busy year by representing Latvia at the World Championship, where he had four goals and two assists over over seven games. <\/p>\n![\"BOSTON](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WDXMOVU3GBIO3CG2MN3WT4QV4I.jpg\")
BOSTON ,MA – JULY 1 Dean Letourneau, in action at the second day of Boston Bruins Development Camp at Warrior Arena in Boston ,MA on Tuesday , July 1 2025. (Jonathan Wiggs Globe \/Staff )Jonathan Wiggs\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n
![\"Fraser](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AQPF5ENPGYC7RE2A47TNDTOBI4.jpg\")
Fraser Minten shoots and scores past New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce and Luke Hughes.Adam Hunger\/Associated Press<\/p>\n