Why the Bruins Should Sign Adam Mechura

Adam Mechura has played most of his hockey back in his native Czechia where he was very productive. He’s also represented Czechia internationally on several occasions. He went undrafted in both the 2021 and 2022 National Hockey League Entry Drafts. He did get an invite to the Arizona Coyotes rookie camp in 2022, but that’s as far as he got.

After being selected fourth overall at the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft Mechura, who always wanted to play in the NHL, decided his best opportunity would be to come to North America and join the Tri-City Americans who drafted him.

It looked like the right move for Mechura and Tri-City. Mechura appeared in 58 games and scored 26 goals and 26 assists. He would add a goal and 6 helpers in 6 playoff games. He also represented Czechia at the World Junior Championships and had 3 assists in 7 games.

The Bruins decided they’ve seen enough and invited Mechura to their rookie camp last summer. It appeared that nothing was going to materialize from it, so he returned to Tri-City. However, he appeared in just one game when he got the call from the Bruins and they signed him to an American Hockey League deal.

It’s standard procedure for undrafted free agents; get them in on an AHL deal either in the AHL or ECHL and see how they adjust to pro hockey.

With a bevy of NHL contracts, the Bruins have in Providence, Mechura’s start was going to be with the Maine Mariners of the ECHL. The 6’4”, 200-pound center/left winger got off to a bit of a slow start but he has really come on. He is second on the team in goals and third in assists and points. He has 4 goals and 6 assists in his last 10 games to heat up and even got a 2-game look in Providence. The most surprising stat: He leads Maine with a plus-6 on a team full of minuses (there are only 5 plus players on the roster).

Mechura has 4 teammates in the same situation looking for that elusive NHL contract: Jimmy Lambert, Owen Pederson, Shane Starrett and Ethan Ritchie. There are 3 more in Providence: Justin Brazeau, Joseph Abate and Vincent Arseneau. But none are more deserving. Maybe in another year we can have the same discussion about Ritchie.

Mechura signed a two-year contract with Providence back in October 2022, so there is no rush to get a deal done as he will be back with the organization for the 2024-2025 season. It’s the same situation that Luke Toporowski was in. He signed a two-year deal with Providence in June 2022 that would take him to the end of this season. But the Bruins decided to tear up his AHL deal and sign him to his entry level contract last summer. It prevents another organization from swooping in.

With the prospect pool lacking and draft picks almost non existent, this is a no brainer for me. But then again, I’m not an NHL General Manager.

Note: This is for next season not this season.

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