By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
The Boston Bruins’ free agency was disappointing, to say the least. They signed several bottom-six players, including Tanner Jeannot, Michael Eyssimont, and Sean Kuraly. However, one player who continues to be overlooked and excluded from the Boston Bruins’ opening night lineup is Matej Blumel, despite proving he deserves a chance at the next level. David Pastrnak convinced his countryman to sign in Boston, yet people continue to write him off due to his lack of National Hockey League experience. This is why you should be excited about Matej Blumel.
Blumel is no longer considered a prospect for me due to his age (25), but he is well overdue for a spot on an NHL roster. In 2017-18, he began his junior hockey career in the United States Hockey League with the Waterloo Blackhawks. Then he signed a professional contract in the Czech Republic in 2019, after spending two seasons with the Blackhawks. From 2019 to 2022, Blumel continued to excel in the Czech League with HC Dynamo Pardubice, eventually earning a contract with the Dallas Stars for the 2022-23 season.
Dallas assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Texas Stars, where Matej recorded 19-25-44 in 58 games. He also had a brief six-game stint with Dallas, during which he scored his first professional goal. That goal was a remarkable one; former Bruin Tyler Seguin fought to free the puck and made a pass to the wide-open Blumel. Blumel then took the puck to his backhand and beat Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Felix Sandstrom.
During the 2023-24 season, the Waterloo Blackhawks product was sent down to the Texas Stars once again, where he dominated by scoring 31-31-62 in 72 games. Unfortunately, he did not get an opportunity to play in the NHL that season.
In the 2024-25 season, Blumel had another impressive performance, tallying 39-33-72 in 67 games with the Texas Stars. The Dallas Stars briefly recalled the Czech winger, and in the seven games he played with them, he scored one goal.
Matej Blumel deserved an extended opportunity at the NHL level, but did not get that chance in Dallas. It was later reported that he was considering offers from the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston Bruins, but ultimately, a call from David Pastrnak convinced him to join the Bruins. What can fans expect from him moving forward?
If I had to describe Blumel in just one word, that word would be lethal. If you watch his highlights from last season, he makes AHL goalies look like high schoolers. Matej scores at will; he finds the back of the net effortlessly. His head is always up and always facing the puck or the net. The Czech Winger has incredible awareness and does a remarkable job finding space for his teammates to thread passes through. Another word to describe him is smothering. If you’re a defenseman, you better get rid of the puck quickly because Blumel’s skating allows him to forecheck relentlessly.
The highlight of this signing is his versatility in playing different roles throughout the lineup. The team currently has a surplus of players in the bottom six. However, if Matej can establish a role during training camp, his adaptability will enable him to play more games and decrease the chances of him being one of the players frequently rotated out of the lineup.
I was excited to see the Bruins sign Blumel, and soon, fans will share that enthusiasm when they get to see him play in person. This is a low-risk, high-reward signing by Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney.
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