By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
After Vinni Lettieri had his best season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Providence Bruins, he joined the Minnesota Wild signing as a free agent. Just one season later, the Bruins got him back, which turned out to be an excellent move for Lettieri and the team. He began to dominate the AHL competition once more this season. The Bruins organization had previously let him go, but this season, they demonstrated his importance to the team by awarding him the assistant captain role.
Fans were disappointed to see long-time Bruins player Jakub Lauko traded during the 2024 National Hockey League Entry Draft. However, the Bruins faithful quickly rallied behind the move after witnessing Vinni Lettieri’s impressive performance during training camp. He made a strong impression on management and established a great connection with Boston’s top prospect, Georgii Merkulov. It’s easy to overlook that Lettieri was a full-time NHL player with the Wild last season. Vinni had nine points in 46 games in Minnesota last season and appeared to perform at an NHL level while competing against AHL players this year.
To start his AHL season, he demonstrated why he should be a candidate for a call-up if the Bruins need additional players. Lettieri was the only player consistently contributing to a complete game during opening night. He excelled in the defensive zone while simultaneously being the sole source of offense. Unfortunately, when only one player generates scoring opportunities, the team will likely struggle, and they ultimately lost 5-2 against the Laval Rocket. However, Lettieri made his mark on the game with a beautiful goal that went over the shoulder of Rocket netminder Jakub Dobes. This goal marked the beginning of the 2024-25 season for the Baby B’s.
Fortunately for Providence, they had a quick turnaround as they traveled to Bridgeport to face the Islanders the very next day. Once again, Lettieri opened the scoring with a wicked wrist shot that went over the glove of Islanders goaltender Marcus Hogberg. Vinni led the team to victory with his strong offensive and defensive play. The connection he developed in training camp was paying off, as Georgii Merkulov assisted on both of Lettieri’s early-season goals.
After a tough defeat against the Springfield Thunderbirds, during which Lettieri failed to register a point, the Bruins quickly faced the T-Birds again at home. This time, the Minnesota native scored a goal. He positioned himself perfectly, allowing his teammate John Farinacci to slide the puck past the defender’s stick. Vinni’s contributions go beyond just scoring points. This marked the third game in which Coach Ryan Mougenel placed a struggling player on his line to help jumpstart the offense, and it proved effective; the previous night, they had done the same with Fabian Lysell, who also scored.
Since then, he has continued to excel and remains the best player on the Providence Bruins this season. His strong start now seems less like a fluke and more like his typical style of play. His shooting ability is exceptional, and he can beat any goalie in the AHL. He also creates space to get his shot off while opening up options for his teammates if defenders focus on him. The Minnesota Golden Gopher alum currently leads the Providence Bruins in scoring, with five goals and two assists for seven points in nine games. Additionally, he leads the team in shots with 24, indicating his confidence on the ice—something the P-Bruins have desperately lacked.
Catch Lettieri and the Providence Bruins in action this weekend as they play their first three games in three days this season. They will be competing against the Bridgeport Islanders and the Hartford Wolf Pack. If Vinni continues his impressive performance, he could have his best season yet and earn a spot back in the NHL. Hopefully, the team can draw on Vinni’s leadership to turn the season around.
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