(Photo Credit: Connor Nee / Black N’ Gold Productions LLC)

By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44

After a disappointing 2024-2025 National Hockey League season, the Boston Bruins’ management recognized the need for an influx of youth and skill within the organization. Unlike in previous years, the team’s on-ice struggles had led to a different approach at the trade deadline, one where instead of shipping out draft picks for rentals, the B’s moved out some of their own veterans and picked up some draft capital in return.

With those selections, the Bruins were able to take chances on skilled, point-producing players, both for their forward group and on the blue line. Three of those selections, Vashek Blanar, Liam Pettersson, and Kirill Yemelyanov, began their 2025-2026 seasons this week. How did they do?

Vashek Blanar this week for HV71 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, two goals, one assist, six penalty minutes, with a plus-four rating.

Many people hadn’t heard of Blanar when the B’s drafted him 100th overall this summer. A dual citizen of both Czechia and the United States, the Vail, Colorado, native is making the jump from the J20 Region to the U20 Nationell level in Sweden. So far, so good for Blanar, as he helped HV71’s junior team split their opening two games, while producing three points, including a highlight reel goal.

Liam Pettersson this week for Vaxjo (U20 Nationell): Two games played, one goal, four penalty minutes, with a minus-one rating.

Kirill Yemelyanov this week for Loko Yaroslavl (MHL): Four games played, three goals, two assists, two penalty minutes, with a plus-one rating.

Boston’s selection of Yemelyanov in the sixth round of this summer’s NHL Entry Draft was the team’s first selection from Russia since 2019, when they drafted defenseman Roman Bychkov. The Irkutsk, Russia, native is off to a promising start in the MHL, and if he continues at this pace, he may find himself working his way up the developmental ladder of Russian hockey. Per EliteProspects, Yemelyanov is signed in Russia through next season.

Elsewhere, many Bruins prospects were in action in Buffalo, New York, this weekend for the annual prospects challenge. Company colleague Jack Studley and I recapped the B’s two games this weekend. You can find links to my recap of Friday’s contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins here, and Jack’s coverage of Sunday’s game against the New Jersey Devils here.