When the Bruins placed Marc McLaughlin on waivers Sunday, the expectation was that someone would be called up from AHL Providence in a corresponding move. For many fans, the hope was that it was time to take a look at one of the team’s offensive-minded young forwards: Matt Poitras, Fabian Lysell or Georgii Merkulov.
Instead, it was 29-year-old Vinni Lettieri who got the call and joined the team at Warrior Ice Arena for Monday’s practice. Interim head coach Joe Sacco explained why that was the move.
“Vinni’s played very well in Providence. Leading scorer down there,” Sacco said. “Deserves an opportunity to come up and play. … Guys need to get rewarded, as well, when they play well for us, and he’s one of the guys. … Certainly, Vinni brings some speed to our lineup, a good shot, and has an ability to finish.”
As disappointed as some fans were on social media, Sacco is right to point out that Lettieri – and not any of the kids – is Providence’s leading scorer this season. Lettieri leads the P-Bruins is goals (14) and points (35) through 35 games, making him the only player on the team who is averaging a point per game.
Lettieri also has NHL experience, having played 129 games across parts of six seasons. He had nine points (5 goals, 4 assists) in 46 games for the Wild last season before being re-acquired by Boston in a draft day trade that sent Jakub Lauko to Minnesota.
Lettieri spent the 2022-23 season with the Bruins, finishing second on the P-Bruins with 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists) in 48 games. He did get called up to Boston that season as well, but played just one game before suffering an injury that forced him to miss time. He was sent back to Providence once he returned from the injury.
“Obviously frustrating,” Lettieri said of that situation two years ago. “But it’s just a bump in the road. I just look toward the big man above. He’s everything for me. So, whether that’s the injury that time, it’s all panned itself out, sitting here again in this locker room. Everything happens for a reason. I just have to trust in his plan and just come ready to play and win games.”
Still, questions about why this isn’t Poitras, Lysell or Merkulov getting a chance remain fair. In a season in which the Bruins have been nothing more than a middle-of-the-pack team, and have consistently struggled to score, it would seem to behoove them to take a real look at what they have in some of their young players before they pick a direction ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.
While who gets called up is ultimately more of a Don Sweeney decision than a Sacco decision, Sacco reiterated that the team simply believes Lettieri is the most deserving at this moment, and that the door isn’t closed on someone else getting a shot at some point.
“I think right now, just based on what we have, we’re looking at a little bit of speed element there,” Sacco said. “His confidence level right now is pretty high, so we’re hoping that carries over to our level here with our group. And it’s not to say that other guys at some point won’t be getting an opportunity as well. We’ll see. But he was the guy, right now, he’s deserving of the opportunity basically based on merit.”
Lettieri skated on the third line at Monday’s practice with Trent Frederic and Oliver Wahlstrom. Justin Brazeau dropped down to the fourth line with Johnny Beecher and Cole Koepke, while Mark Kastelic did not skate and remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Kastelic will not play Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sacco said the lines could still change again before Tuesday's game.
As for McLaughlin, the Bruins will find out at 2 p.m. Monday whether he cleared waivers or not. If he does clear, they will presumably send him back to AHL Providence. McLaughlin had two points (both goals) in 12 games with Boston this season.
UPDATE: McLaughlin did indeed clear waivers, and has now been assigned to Providence.