How Bruins draft picks are faring in college hockey
Andre Gasseau and Oskar Jellvik were drafted by the Bruins in 2021. They are two of the eight players selected by the Bruins currently playing college hockey in New England.
When Cutter Gauthier departed for the NHL after his sophomore season, one of the questions surrounding the Boston College men’s hockey team was how his absence would affect linemates Andre Gasseau and Oskar Jellvik, who were returning for their junior seasons.
The assist totals for both have dipped, and that was to be expected considering Gauthier led the nation with 38 goals in 2023-24. But overall, the coaching staff liked what it saw in the first half. Whereas perhaps they were focusing on getting Gauthier the puck and watching the 2022 No. 5 overall pick do his thing, the duo has been more assertive this season.
With eight goals in the first 16 games, Gasseau is on pace to surpass his career best of 12, which he posted in 40 games as a sophomore. The 6-foot-4-inch, 217-pounder has improved his agility and is using his big frame to get to the net more.
“We’re very pleased with his development, and he’s taken a bigger and bigger role each season, and we’re very pleased with the trend that he’s on,” said coach Greg Brown.
Jellvik (5-10, 180) doesn’t have the size of his classmate but has impressed with his vision and hockey sense.
The pair bounced around the lineup but recently have been reunited on the second line.
Both were drafted by the Bruins in 2021, with Gasseau selected in the seventh round (213th overall) and Jellvik in the fifth (No. 149). They are two of the eight players selected by the Bruins currently playing college hockey in New England. Here is how the rest are faring:
Dean Letourneau, F, Boston College, 6-7, 221 (2024, first round, 25th overall)
Letourneau was selected with the pick the Bruins acquired from Ottawa in the Linus Ullmark trade. He was supposed to play in the USHL this season before enrolling at BC in the fall of 2025, but when Will Smith signed with the Sharks last spring, the decision was made to bring the 18-year-old aboard.
The jump from Canadian prep school to Hockey East is big, but the big forward has shown a lot of signs of what could come once he grows into his body, often centering the third or fourth line for an Eagles squad that is 12-3-1 and sits atop the PairWise.
Mason Langenbrunner, D, Harvard, 6-3, 195 (2020, fifth round, 151st overall)
The big defenseman has been solid for the Crimson, particularly on the penalty kill. As a sophomore last season, he finished second on the team with 36 blocked shots. This season, he’s added a bit of offense, scoring three goals in 12 games.
“He’s very sure when he has the puck,” said coach Ted Donato. “He usually makes very good and strong plays. He’s done a lot of good things. He’s certainly taken some real positive steps.”
Dans Locmelis, F, UMass, 6-0, 172 (2022, fourth round, 119th overall)
Minutemen coach Greg Carvel loves the way the sophomore has progressed. Locmelis already has surpassed his point total from last season with 17. He has just three goals, but Carvel believes more will come.
“He just needs to keep getting stronger,” said Carvel. “He’s smart. He skates. He can shoot to score. To me, everything about his game, I think he has NHL ability, he just has to get bigger and stronger. I think he’ll be a hell of a player.”
Philip Svedeback, G, Providence, 6-3, 205 (2021, fourth round, 117th overall)
The only netminder of the bunch, the Stockholm native is in his third season with the Friars. Although he has shared the net with Merrimack transfer Zachary Borgiel, Svedeback (11-2-1, 2.24 goals-against average, .918 save percentage) has seen the majority of the action, starting 14 of 20 games for the 15-3-2 Friars.
“He just keeps getting better,” said coach Nate Leaman. “Last year his hands were really struggling. His hands are great right now. As he continues to get better and better, I think he has a chance to be one of the best in all of college hockey.”
Chris Pelosi, F, Quinnipiac, 6-2, 183 (2023, third round, 92nd overall) and Elliott Groenewold, D, Quinnipiac, 6-2, 208 (2024, fourth round, 110th overall)
The freshmen have appeared in every game for the Bobcats. In a victory at Harvard this month, Pelosi centered the second line, while Groenewold was matched with UMass transfer Aaron Bohlinger on Quinnipiac’s third defense pairing.
“They’ve both been excellent,” said coach Rand Pecknold. “I think even better than their talent is the character. They’re elite-character kids, another level from great character. I’ve been thrilled with them and their play. Off the ice, their grades were phenomenal. They’re doing great.”
Pelosi was one of 29 players invited by USA Hockey to attend training camp to compete for a roster spot for World Junior Championship, but he was one of the last cuts. Upon returning to campus, he scored in Quinnipiac’s next three games.
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