BOSTON — A fast Google search of Vashek Blanar produced restricted choices — not even an Elite Prospects profile.
So when the Bruins drafted the Czech defenseman from Colorado with the 100th overall pick within the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, it was troublesome to seek out data on him. Even those that comply with prospects intently didn’t know a lot about him.
It seems, the 6-foot-4 defenseman not too long ago modified his title from Vashek Richards, which according to The Boston Globe is his mom’s maiden title. The title Vashek Richards produces an Elite Prospects profile with the Blanar final title.
“Threw you a curveball there, didn’t I?,” Bruins normal supervisor Don Sweeney mentioned after the conclusion of the draft.
North American Impartial Central Scouting (NACS) referred to as Blanar a “hidden gem.”
And despite the fact that there wasn’t a load of prospect stories and details about Blanar, that didn’t hinder the Bruins from doing loads of analysis.
“It’s only a testomony to the scouts touring anyplace and all over the place,” Sweeney mentioned. “You’re simply making an attempt to verify. You may discover a younger man, on this case, that’s fairly uncooked. He’s in a little bit of an underdeveloped body proper now. Nice skater, desires to compete. He’s in all probability making an attempt to do an excessive amount of at occasions. I’ve used this analogy earlier than, however there’s a bit of clay that you simply wish to come up with and see if you can begin to mould and stretch and perceive the attributes he has which can be actually enticing.”
In 38 video games for IF Troja-Ljungby in Sweden, Blanar had six targets and 15 assists for 21 factors to go together with 59 penalty minutes.
Blanar told The Boston Globe he dedicated to enjoying not less than yet another season in Sweden. However he’ll fly to Boston on Sunday forward of growth camp on Monday.
