(Photo Credit: Derek Hamilton/AP Photo)

By: Mike Sullivan | Follow me on Twitter @_MikeSullivan

Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins signed C/RW Vinni Lettieri to a 1-year, $750,000 2-way contract earlier this afternoon. The former University of Minnesota forward is 27 years old, standing at five foot 11 inches and weighing 185 pounds. He’s a speedy, skill-oriented forward who will provide depth to this organization. Lettieri has played 219 AHL games, scoring 180 points, 93 goals, and 87 assists. It’s not often that you see a player score more goals than assists. So naturally, Lettieri is a goal scorer.

Vinni’s NHL totals are less than eye-popping. He’s played 46 total games over two seasons with the New York Rangers and 36 complete games with the Anaheim Ducks bringing his NHL total to 82 games over four seasons. In those 82 games, Lettieri was able to produce 18 points. Seven goals and 11 assists.
The point of this signing was for depth purposes. He will help Providence, as he produces at 0.82 points per game percentage in the AHL, which is a very high production rate.

The upside on Lettieri is that he’s only 27 years old. That leaves plenty of time for the bruins to develop his game and perhaps help round him out into a more steady player. I’m not saying that you should expect Letteri to be playing at the TD garden anytime soon, nor should anyone want that. His production at the AHL level will certainly help build a successful team in Rhode Island and perhaps aid in developing young talent who will play with such a successful AHL player.