When Will Zellers got a call from his agent, he was in Wisconsin at his billet house watching the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament play-in games.
He was moving.
The 19-year-old forward first believed he would have to leave and join another USHL team to finish the 2024–25 season.
However, Zellers learned that the Avs were transferring him east less than eight months after hearing Colorado call his name in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft (No. 76 overall).
At Boston’s Development Camp on Monday, Zellers stated, “I was pretty surprised that I was getting traded at a young age.” However, it’s quite unique to be traded to an Original Six squad like this. I was ecstatic. I will always be appreciative of Colorado and everything they done for me. However, it’s quite unique that Boston believes in me at this age.
As the Bruins started the difficult process of restocking their prospect pipeline, the majority of the haul obtained through Boston’s trade-deadline sell-off in March was focused on future draft capital.
@willzellers9pic.twitter.com/TWZCPGqD3k Welcome to town.
However, it’s easy to understand why the Bruins also targeted a youngster like Zellers.
On the ice, the 5-foot-11 winger might not be the most intimidating player.
The same cannot be said for the vulcanized rubber screams he unleashed on the ice at Warrior Ice Arena on Monday.
In reference to Zellers, Bruins player development coordinator Adam McQuaid stated, “You can tell right away that he’s just fitting right into the group.” His innate ability to score goals only on the ice? He takes advantage of the little opportunities that come his way. I believe that’s how he’s motivated.
Given his affinity for finding the back of the goal, Zellers’ status has skyrocketed in recent months as the Bruins attempt to develop the next generation of youthful talent to back up players like David Pastrnak up front.
In his first full season in the USHL, the Maple Grove, Minnesota native dominated defenses, winning USHL Player of the Year for his 44 goals and 71 points in 52 games with the Green Bay Gamblers last season.
The addition of Zellers’ scoring touch to Boston’s pipeline is a pleasant outcome for a team seeking to add more talent and scoring touch to their depth chart. Zellers has a crisp wrist shot and is eager to drive into Grade-A ice for greasy scoring chances.
According to Zellers, he bases his style of play on Jake Guentzel, a Minnesota native who was selected 77th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft. Even though he is only 5’11” and 179 pounds, Guentzel has scored 30 goals or more five times in his career thanks to his explosive shooting and offensive instincts.
Whether Zellers can duplicate that kind of output in the NHL ranks is still up in the air.
However, as he looks to build on his breakout season against USHL opposition, the talented winger, who will attend North Dakota in the fall, stated that he isn’t thinking too far ahead.
Regarding Boston’s message to him following the trade, Zellers stated, “They were just talking to me, telling me not to look too much into it that I’m still a great player.” In a way, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t doubting my value, myself, or what was wrong with me.
They simply urged me to keep playing the way it is all year long and were extremely reassuring about it. They are quite pleased with my game.
Once an unknown, Blanar stands out early
On Saturday afternoon, Vashek Blanar couldn’t resist browsing through his phone.
The misunderstanding resulting from Boston’s fourth-round selection on social media overshadowed his pleasure on the day he learned that the Bruins had selected him 100th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft.
I’ve seen a lot of content on YouTube and Twitter that makes me wonder, “Who is this guy?” His name doesn’t exist if you Google it. Blanar stated on Monday that it has been enjoyable to witness it.
The Colorado-born blueliner, who returned to his parents’ native Czechia when he was four years old, wasn’t exactly considered a hot prospect in this selection, despite his interesting skill set as a 6-foot-4 defenseman with poised offensive instincts.
Blanar, a raw talent who skated in the Swedish junior levels this past season, was left out of a number of draft rankings going into this weekend.
However, Monday’s results were promising, as the large defenseman wired a couple shots home from the point and moved the puck neatly during drills.
In 2025–2026, Blanar will spend another year in Sweden, but the Czech product is thrilled to be joining the same team as his favorite player in the years to come.
Regarding Pastrnak, who also played in Sweden before becoming a professional, Blanar remarked, “I followed him a lot in the past years.” Playing in Boston has long been a dream of mine.
Loose pucks
Zellers is one of the many fans who can’t wait to see James Hagens wear a Bruins sweater in the years to come. Regarding Hagens, Zellers remarked, “It’s unbelievable that he dropped to seven [in the draft].” When we look back in ten to fifteen years, I believe he will likely be the draft’s steal.
Oskar Jellvik, a BC forward and Bruins prospect, did not travel from Sweden for Dev Camp, according to McQuaid, as he heals from an upper-body injury sustained earlier in the season. “He’s doing well,” McQuaid remarked.
Dean Letourneau, a 2024 first-round choice of the Boston Bruins, disclosed that he suffered a fractured hand during the first half of his 2024–25 season while playing for BC. The 6-foot-7 center ended his first season with 0 goals in 36 games despite having surgery to fix it around Christmas.
Since 2023, Conor Ryan has worked as a staff writer for Boston.com, covering the Boston Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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