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5 players to watch for during Bruins Development Camp
James Hagens will headline a Bruins Dev Camp roster that should have some high-end talent in place.
A few days after he first donned the spoked-B, James Hagens is set to hit the frozen sheet at Warrior Ice Arena this week as the headliner on the Bruins’ 2025 Development Camp roster.
Hagens and the rest of Boston’s seven-player class from the 2025 NHL Draft are expected to be in attendance, along with over 20 other intriguing Bruins prospects and camp invites.
The four-day camp — held from Monday through Thursday at Boston’s practice facility in Brighton — will give Bruins fans in attendance in Brighton a prime opportunity to see the next wave of Boston’s talent find their footing with their future NHL club.
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Here are five players to keep tabs on during Development Camp:
James Hagens, C
The new crown jewel of a revamped Bruins prospect pipeline, Hagens could assuage the pain drawn from a miserable 2024-25 season if he develops into a legitimate franchise pivot for Boston in due time.
Despite dropping from his standing as the projected No. 1 pick in his draft class entering the 2024-25 campaign, Hagens is a skilled playmaker whose skating ability, slick hands, and transition game should translate well to hockey’s highest level.
Another year at Chestnut Hill will benefit Hagens, giving him more time to fill out his 5-foot-11 frame.
But, this week could offer Bruins fans longing for high-end talent a quick glimpse at what’s to come when Hagens eventually puts on a black-and-gold sweater full-time.
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“I don’t think it’s an alarming thing for us at all, Bruins director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau said of Hagens’ 37-point season as a freshman at BC. “James helped drive a lot of play. Love the way that he can play with pace and attack with pace. Controlled pucks offensively. Just a real exciting player for us.”
Hagens headlines an intriguing 2025 draft class at development camp that will also feature a promising 200-foot center prospect (who plays a mean piano) in William Moore and a raw offensive blueliner in Liam Pettersson.
Will Zellers, LW
One of the top prospects plucked from Boston’s trade-deadline teardown in March, Zellers has only continued to elevate his stock since Boston acquired him from the Avalanche as part of the Charlie Coyle deal.
The former 2024 third-round pick was a force this past year with the Green Bay Gamblers — ultimately winning USHL Player of the Year honors after scoring 44 goals and 72 points in just 52 games.
The only players to score more goals in the USHL than Zellers’ 44 since the 2001-02 season? Kevin Roy (54), Matt Coronato (48), Macklin Celebrini (46), Thomas Vanek (46), and Rem Pitlick (46).
The 5-foot-10 Zellers has a dangerous release, while also possessing the willingness to skate in Grade-A ice to cash in on quality chances.
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For a Bruins team short on high-end offensive talent, Zellers — who will play at the University of North Dakota in the fall — has the potential to be a 25-goal regular in the coming years.
Dean Letourneau, C
All eyes might be fixated on Hagens this season at Chestnut Hill.
But Boston College is expected to feature a whopping six Bruins prospects on its roster in 2025-26: Hagens, Moore, Dean Letourneau, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, and Kristian Kostadinski.
And while the presence of a legitimate top-six center in Hagens might alleviate some of the pressure put on Letourneau, this is still shaping up to be a critical year for the Eagles pivot.
Selected in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft (No. 25 overall), Letourneau was viewed as a project by Boston. The 6-foot-7 center’s blend of size and skill paints the picture of a potential matchup nightmare in the pro ranks.
But, after spending most of his draft year dominating at the prep level (127 points in 56 games at St. Andrew’s College), Letourneau opted to make the jump up to Hockey East in 2024-25 once a roster spot opened up rather than spending a year working on his craft in the USHL.
“I think we all would have agreed that maybe another year of the USHL [or] a full year of the USHL would have been the best path,” Don Sweeney acknowledged on Wednesday of Letourneau’s development this past season.
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The 2024-25 campaign was a struggle for Letourneau at BC, with the center limited to zero goals and just three assists over 36 games for the Eagles. At this stage of his development, the Bruins might even welcome a scenario where Letourneau develops into more of a bottom-six ace like the 6-foot-7 Brian Boyle.
But the Bruins need to see more out of Letourneau moving forward when it comes to being more assertive on the ice, especially given his imposing frame.
Albin Boija, G
The Bruins do have one drafted goalie taking part in Development Camp in Providence College product Philip Svedebäck (2021 fourth-round pick).
But, as the Bruins try to find another young netminder to pair with Jeremy Swayman for the long haul, a fellow Maine Black Bear in Boija is worth keeping tabs on.
A camp invite by Boston, Boija is expected to be one of the top undrafted college free agents on the market next season after helping lead Maine to its first Hockey East championship since 2004. The 21-year-old won 23 games with the Black Bears this past year, sporting a .928 save percentage.
With the future of both Michael DiPietro and Brandon Bussi uncertain as goaltending talent further down in the system, Boija could be an intriguing add for Boston next spring once Maine’s season wraps.
Chris Pelosi, C/W
One of the more under-the-radar prospects in Boston’s system, Pelosi had a strong first season at Quinnipiac in 2024-25. He scored 13 goals and 24 total points in 38 games with the Bobcats as a freshman, with 19 of those points coming off over his team’s final 23 games of the season.
A third-round selection by the Bruins in the 2023 NHL Draft, Pelosi is a high-motor, physical forward who was noticeable during development camp last year when it came to engaging down low and closing in on skaters during scrimmage play.
He might be more of a third-line player if he eventually makes the jump to the NHL ranks, but Pelosi’s sandpaper style of play could eventually make him a useful asset for the Bruins in the coming years.
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