Maxim Letunov Commits to UConn

What is Boston University’s loss appears to be Connecticut’s gain. The Hartford Courant is reporting that Maxim Letunov, one of the top prospects in the world, will uncommit from Boston University and join the Huskies in Connecticut.

Letunov is the top prospect in Russia for his age group, and he had originally committed to being Terrier. However, the Courant reports that an issue in the admissions process has caused Letunov to uncommit from BU and join Connecticut.

“I did have a lot of options,” Letunov said Monday to the Courant. “When I committed to Boston University a year and a half ago, UConn wasn’t even in the picture. But it’s a great program because the coaches have done a lot in the last two years.”

Letunov, 19 years old, was already drafted into the NHL when he became the second round selection of the St. Louis Blues in 2014. He was involved in a trade that shipped his rights to the Arizona Coyotes for NHL defenseman Zbynek Michalek.

“Maxim is a big, skilled center with excellent upside,” Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said in a press release after the March trade, according to the Courant.

Letunov has experience playing in the United States, as he has been playing in the junior league USHL. In 118 games with the Youngstown Phantoms over two seasons, he has posed 107 points and he had 64 points in 58 games in this past season alone.

One of the issues now for the Huskies is determining the eligibility for Letunov. Leaving one school for another might mean he has to sit out for the 2015-2016 season, but if circumstances are right, he might be allowed to lace them up this year.

“Sometimes things happen that you have no control over,” Letunov said. “When it didn’t work out at Boston, I had other options and I tried to find a new school. UConn is close by, same [conference], I contacted the coaches and it all happened so fast. It is still early [in the relationship] but I can say, great people. I’m just really excited. I think it is a program that is doing great things.”

“We haven’t talked about my role,” Letunov said. “I’ll just be glad to be part of the team.”