Back in July, the Boston Bruins were looking to fill spots on their AHL affiliate Providence Bruins. The opportunity came to sign a 27-year-old with NHL experience and the Bruins jumped at the chance. Vinny Lettieri had played 82 games at the National Hockey League level with the New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks and was coming off a 31-game stint with Anaheim where the 5-foot-11 forward tallied five goals and five assists. But the Minnesota Golden Gopher is more known for his AHL acumen.
Lettieri signed a one-year, two-way deal in July for $750,000. The Excelsior, Minnesota native has now scored 104 career goals in the AHL and is on a point-per-game pace with the Providence Bruins this season with 11 goals and 14 assists in 25 games. Lettieri has reaped the benefits of playing with talented prospects Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov, who are two players the Bruins are relying on to play at the next level in the foreseeable future. Lettieri’s AHL career high is 25 goals in a season and he is on pace to break that.
The speedy center is also insurance for the big club as his NHL experience will make him an option for Jim Montgomery and the Bruins if there are injuries among the centermen. Lettieri has been trying to find his way back to the NHL and has been hot of late with 10 points in his last 10 games.
The Minnesotan played two years at Minnetonka High School where he totaled 95 points in 50 games. He would join the Lincoln Stars in the United States Hockey League and registered 56 points in 61 games in his second season. Lettieri would commit to playing in his home state at the University of Minnesota where he would play for four years. The 185-pound forward would improve his offensive production every season with his senior season being his best. Lettieri finished that year with 37 points in 38 games.
The New York Rangers would sign Lettieri in March of 2017 and registered just eight points in 46 games over two seasons with the Rangers. In 2020, the Ducks signed Lettieri leading up to his signing with the Bruins this past summer.
Right now, it’s just about the opportunity for Lettieri. He might not get it in Boston, but he continues to showcase himself in the AHL with thoughts of getting back to the NHL. The Providence Bruins are 16-4-4 and currently second in the AHL with 38 points. Vinny Lettieri has been a big part of that and the veteran in the room that can be very valuable in the minor leagues with so many prospects. Hopefully, Lettieri gets another opportunity in the NHL and soon.
Season 4. Episode 39. The Off Season – Bruins Benders Podcast
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