By: Jack Studley | Follow me on Twitter/X @jackstudley13
I was fortunate to join the BNG Productions team for day one of the 2025 Bruins Development Camp at Warrior Ice Arena. The forwards started the morning at the first session at 9:50 a.m. The defense worked in the second session, which began around 11:30 a.m. Goalies Albin Boija and Cameron Korpi joined the forwards in their session, while Philip Svedebäck and Dylan Silverstein were in goal while the defensemen were on the ice.
One name that stood out today was Vashek Blanár. The defenseman who once seemed a mystery looked like the best player during today’s second session. He looked confident and showed off his speed, shooting, and distribution skills during day one at Warrior. He also skated well, showing excellent mobility, especially with his 6’4” frame. His 183lbs carries him light, and he uses that to his advantage. He made a lasting first impression today at the Bruins Development Camp.
The defense groups were shooting on goaltenders Philip Svedebäck and Dylan Silverstein, and Blanár showed off, finding the top corner against the Providence College netminder. He connected passes with teammates throughout drills and was a smooth skater, displaying both on day one. After the second session concluded, Blanár was generous enough to speak to the media today, so we learned more about him.
At first, the fourth-round draft selection seemed like an out-of-nowhere pick. NHL Network had nothing to say about the Bruins’ draft choice, and the social media posts from the team did not feature a picture of Blanár. Initially, there was confusion about his name, as Vashek Blanár did not return any results on EliteProspects. However, Vashek Richards did, and it matched the player card of the player the Bruins just drafted. He said that Richards is his mother’s maiden name, and he changed his last name to Blanár when he turned 18 to match the rest of his family.
Blanár described himself as a two-way defenseman. He mentioned that he likes to model his game after Moritz Seider, which is fitting because they are both 6’4”. Seider, a Calder Trophy winner and sixth overall pick, has been a solid two-way defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings throughout his career, which recently earned him a seven-year contract with an $8.55M AAV. To get there, Blanár needs to get bigger, and he is prioritizing his physicality; he is 18 years old, there is time.
Blanár’s path to getting here is unique. He was born in Colorado to Czech-born parents and moved back to the Czech Republic when he was four. He played youth hockey with HC Frýdek-Místek and continued playing up to the under-17 level in the Czech Republic, spending time with the U17 clubs of HC Oceláři Třinec, HC Vítkovice, and AZ Havířov. He was a 14- and 15-year-old playing in the Czech U17 division. He mentioned that he felt limited in his ability to develop, as it was challenging to focus on hockey solely – there were other things to do once the hour that they had the rink concluded.
He moved to Sweden in 2023, at 16 years old, signing with Hässelby Kälvesta HC and captaining their under-18 team. He tallied 38 points in 28 games and earned an assist during a call-up to Hässelby Kälvesta HC in the Swedish Fourth Division, where he played two games. He said the move to Sweden allowed him to open up his game, crediting the availability of rinks in Sweden. He said that he spent a lot of time at the rink after he moved from Czechia.
Last season, Blanár played for IF Troja-Ljungby, with 21 points in 38 games at the under-18 level, and another two goals and six assists in five relegation games. He added an assist in six games at the under-20 level. Next season, Blanár will stay in Sweden and play with HV71 for their under-20 team.
Although at the moment, it looked like the Bruins went off the board with the 100th overall pick, they might have something special in their hands. Vashek Blánar will be a project and needs time before moving to North America, but this season for HV71 U20 should prove to be a real stepping stone for him. His priority now is his physicality, and as his game grows, he will be a fun prospect to watch this week and throughout the coming seasons.
Leave a Reply