The Boston Bruins selected Elliott Groenewold, Jonathan Morello and Loke Johansson on the second day of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
The Boston Bruins selected Elliott Groenewold, Jonathan Morello and Loke Johansson on the second day of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
LAS VEGAS – The Boston Bruins made three selections on Day 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere on Saturday.
One day after picking Dean Letourneau 25th overall, the Bruins did not make another selection until the fourth round, but they jumped up to get there.
Boston sent the 122nd pick and forward Jakub Lauko to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for the 110th pick and forward Vinni Lettieri. The Bruins used the 110th pick to take defenseman Elliott Groenewold.
A native of Vermont, Groenewold grew up rooting for the Bruins. After playing for Bishop’s College in Canada for three seasons, Groenewold spent this past season with Cedar Rapids in the USHL. He had five goals and 16 points in 57 games, and he is committed to play college hockey at Quinnipiac next season.
“Being selected by [Boston] is a dream come true,” Groenewold said on Saturday. “Obviously when I saw that trade happen, I had an idea that I might come, but I wasn’t sure. And then when my name was called, I just got a big adrenaline rush and felt amazing.”
As a Bruins fan, Groenewold said he draws inspiration from Hampus Lindholm and Brandon Carlo, citing Lindholm’s two-way play and Carlo’s shutdown ability as traits he tries to implement within his own game.
Listed at 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, Groenewold brings size that the Bruins scouting staff likes.
“He’s got a frame. He’s got good feet. He likes to play, he likes to impact, he likes to get up the ice,” Bruins Director of Amateur Scouting Ryan Nadeau said. “He can play an aggressive style. Puck play is pretty good. He was used at times on the power play this year in Cedar [Rapids]. I think he might get that opportunity at Quinnipiac at some point.
“So it’s a kid that we just really like his game. Real good, good human. Just really excited to add him.”
The Bruins went back to addressing the forward position in the fifth round, selecting Jonathan Morello with the 154th pick. The Toronto native has spent the past two seasons with the St. Michael’s Buzzers of the OJHL. He scored above a point-per-game rate this past season, finishing with 57 (25 goals, 32 assists) in 50 games.
The 6-foot-3, 192-pound center is set to play for Dubuque in the USHL this upcoming season, and he is committed to play at Clarkson University beginning in 2025-26.
Morello said he had more conversations with Boston during his pre-draft process than any other team, so he knew he was on their radar. Joining Letourneau in Boston’s forward prospect depth, Morello called himself a two-way center mixed with a power forward.
“I use speed a lot in my game,” Morello said. “My skating is probably the biggest attribute in my game, and that’s something that I use whether I’m carrying the puck down the wing, driving to the net or if I’m on the backcheck in the defensive zone. I like to use that and my hockey IQ to make plays and be dangerous.”
Rounding out the second day was defenseman Loke Johansson, who the Bruins selected at pick 186 in the sixth round. Another big player at 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, the Stockholm native plays for AIK in Sweden, where he had one assist in 19 games last season. He also played 33 games with AIK’s team in the J20 Nationell League.
Nadeau said the Bruins like Johansson’s physicality, but that there is still plenty of development ahead for him.
“I do think the puck play is going to need to improve, but again, that’s gonna come with just more reps,” Nadeau said. “At times, he can tend to overcomplicate it, but again, that’s most young defensemen at pretty much any level.
“We like that he wants to impact and try and make plays. Again, we’re betting on the defending part, and he does have some ability to handle pucks and just, it’s gonna have to continue to improve.”
Johansson was not in Vegas for the draft, but he is expected to attend Boston’s Development Camp, along with the other three 2024 Draft picks, from July 1-4.
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