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Dean Letourneau
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Acquisition by the Canadiens: Kent Hughes could turn the trade of Sean Monahan into a giant like Dean Letourneau

Published March 24, 2024 at 4:44 PM
BY DAVID ST-JEAN
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With the first-round pick acquired from the Jets in exchange for Sean Monahan, Kent Hughes and the Canadiens could very well land the towering 6'7" forward, Dean Letourneau.

Indeed, Letourneau is listed in the top 10-15 by some teams, while others have him in the 2nd or even 3rd round. It's fascinating to see how viewpoints vary from one scouting team to another.

Since the Jets' pick will likely be at the end of the first round, Letourneau could be available. Of course, this is assuming Kent Hughes doesn't trade away this selection.

His current coach, David Manning, has high praise for Letourneau and notes a crucial point.


"Some NHL scouts are confused," explained the highly respected Bob McKenzie in January. "Some scouts have him in their top 10 or top 15, and several others have him more in the second or third round."

"I've always said he's a 6-foot-7 guy who plays like he's 5-foot-4," illustrates Manning. "He has a fantastic touch with the puck. He can do the same things as smaller players in tight spaces. Most kids who have grown so much, their way of moving isn't very elegant. That's never been the case with him."


These are very intriguing remarks. We know that the Canadiens place a lot of emphasis on their players' skating abilities and speed while also trying to add size.

Letourneau's fluidity on skates is impressive for his size. He is even compared to Tage Thompson, which is far from ordinary.

"With that reach, that level of skill, and that skating ability, you could certainly compare the two players."

- David Manning, head coach of St. Andrew's College, in an interview with TVASports.ca

Letourneau amassed 160 points in 73 games this season, and he will join Jacob Fowler at Boston College next year in the NCAA.

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March 24   |   269 answers
Acquisition by the Canadiens: Kent Hughes could turn the trade of Sean Monahan into a giant like Dean Letourneau

Would you like Kent Hughes and the Canadiens to acquire Dean Letourneau with the pick acquired for Sean Monahan?

Yes19773.2 %
No7226.8 %
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