Much of the talk that centered around the Boston Bruins draft needs involved the center position. The Bruins selected big pivot Dean Letourneau with their first-round draft pick at number 25 overall. Another area of need is on defense where the Bruins have gotten thin in their prospect pool after the emergence of Mason Lohrei this season. The NHL club has a solid group but what comes next is yet to be determined after recent picks Frederic Brunet and Jackson Edward. The Bruins identified someone at pick 110 and traded up 112 spots to draft Elliott Groenewold.
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Incoming Quinnipiac defenseman Elliott Groenewold was a fourth-round pick of the Boston Bruins on Saturday’s second day of the NHL Draft. The Bruins traded up with Minnesota to get the 110th pick to take Groenewold, also exchanging forward Jakub Lauko for forward Vinni Lettieri in the deal. Groenewold, 18, a Vermont native, played this past season in the United States Hockey League with Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman scored five goals and 11 assists in 57 games.
Groenewold, from Bellows Falls, was ranked 66th by Central Scouting among North American skaters and had the following scout from Elite Prospects: “As the off-puck defender, Groenewold’s high-pace, high-aggression style stands out. He locks down threats around the net, jumps into passing lanes, and diffuses multi-variable situations with ease. When defending the rush, he pivots early and surfs across to force the attacker wide”.
The emphasis this offseason for Boston is size at every position. Many of the acquisitions via draft, trade, or free agency have included players six feet taller or better. Groenewold has the potential to be a solid two-way blue liner and playing at Quinnipiac should help his development. The Bruins stockpiled talent in this recent draft and Elliott Groenewold could be a steal.
