By: Jack Studley | Follow me on Twitter/X @jackstudley13
This week, I have been extremely fortunate to represent BNG Productions with boots-on-the-ground coverage at the Bruins Development Camp. On Tuesday, day two, the defense group took the ice at 9:15 a.m., the forwards followed at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, day three, was a whole group session that got underway at 10:00 a.m. Thursday’s session will put a bow on this year’s development camp, and we will see the prospects play in teams as they get set for a scrimmage. The session will start around 9:30 a.m.
When the defense took the ice on Tuesday morning, one of the first things that stood out was the size of the defensemen and how that impacts their play. Kristian Kostadinski is 6’5”, and Vashek Blanár and Ryan Koering are 6’4”. Kostadinski, the Boston College commit, uses his 220lbs to put power into his shot. He scored six goals for Dubuque (USHL) this season, and when his shot is on frame, it can be a threat. His development continues with his skating, which has improved over the years.
Liam Pettersson is 6’2” and weighs 170 lbs, the lightest amongst the defense group. He uses that to his advantage; he skates very smoothly, and his comfort and ability to move the puck have been fully displayed this week. Pettersson has a very high offensive upside, and his transition game is highly rated. He is 18 years old and was selected with the 61st overall pick at the draft on Saturday. He will need to develop his defensive game and physicality; fortunately, there is time to do that. He is expected to return to Sweden this fall and continue playing for the Växjö Lakers under-20 team. Last season for them, he scored six goals and had 21 points in 39 games.
The forward group followed the defense, and James Hagens is living up to the excitement surrounding his name thus far. His skating has been phenomenal, and he has excelled at the drills the Bruins’ development coaches set up. The shooting drills proved to be a showcase for many prospects, with Will Moore and Cooper Simpson displaying their accuracy. Simpson is a prospect who has a rich goal-scoring history. After a 49-goal high school season, Simpson scored seven in nine USHL games with the Tri-City Storm.
Cole Chandler is another prospect who has made a good impression this week. He dealt with an injury that took him out of some of the 2023-24 season, and an illness impacted his start to the 2024-25 season. “Getting my confidence back and being comfortable out there on the ice” was what Chandler prioritized, and when that happened, it spurred Chandler’s second-half and playoff performance. He had 21 points in Shawinigan’s last 30 regular-season games and 12 more in 16 playoff games.
On day three of the development camp, the group practiced in one big session. Chris Pelosi stood out for his speed. He moves quickly on both sides of the ice and uses his speed to generate offense. Pelosi also demonstrated a substantial second and third effort. He would not stop fighting to regain control if knocked off the puck. His shot has been on display all week, picking corners and making it look easy. The 20-year-old scored 13 goals in his first year at Quinnipiac and will return to Hamden, CT in the fall.
Dean Letourneau, a first-round draft pick from 2024, stands at 6’7” and has used that to his advantage this week. He used his size to win battles on the boards and move the puck out, and was making more of a net-front presence known today. With his frame, Letourneau has the physical tools to establish himself as a serious threat in front of the net. Letourneau played his freshman year with a broken hand and knows he has more to show regarding production. The organization will continue to monitor his development at Boston College, and he is one of six Boston prospects playing in Chestnut Hill this year.
Will Zellers is a prospect who has been finding the back of the net during camp this week, except when he impressively hit the post three times within a few minutes on Thursday morning. My colleague at BNG, Tom Calauttis, said it best: “Will Zellers has an absolutely lethal release.” It makes sense, Zellers was the USHL goal-scoring leader this season. He netted 44 this year with Green Bay and is off to the University of North Dakota in the fall. Zellers was not afraid to get physical today, but he will need to get bigger. Zellers is 5’10” and 170lbs, and was getting knocked over – but he is 19 years old, and entering his freshman year of college, he has time to put on muscle.
The prospects have taken advantage of what they are being offered. On Tuesday and Wednesday, a group of prospects stayed out after the session to work with development coaches to improve their game. With the scrimmage coming tomorrow, it will be intriguing to see how these guys shape up when placed on lines with each other. We will have coverage from Warrior Ice Arena tomorrow. Be sure to follow Mark Allred, Tom Calauttis, me, and our unbelievable photographer, Connor Nee, to see more from the Bruins’ development camp on day four.
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