Boston Bruins: Jakub Zboril Showing Strong Improvement

Jakub Zboril wants to make the Boston Bruins roster this year.

The 19-year old Czech native believes he has a shot of making the 2016-17 roster. The odds are certainly stacked against him. The Bruins already have seven signed defensemen, and Zboril doesn’t look like he’s ready for the NHL. But stranger things have happened in Bruins hockey.

Zboril finished up his second development camp last week, and he’ll be invited to training camp in September. Zboril had a better camp than last year, and he’s pushing hard to improve himself.

“It’s not easier because the hardness is still the same, but I’m in better shape for the hard practices. It’s a great experience to be here,” said Zboril at this years’ training camp, according to CSNNE.com. “I felt like I had to do it better this year because I was the first choice of the Bruins last year. I felt that kind of pressure. I really wanted to work hard on myself.”

The Bruins organization was happy with the extra push in Zboril’s step. The B’s took a lot of flak when the Bruins selected him as their first pick of the 2015 Entry Draft. The 13th overall pick haws been working hard to validate the B’s trust in him, and the front office and coaches acknowledged his hard work.

“[Zboril] looks good. He’s in much better shape this year after we talked to him about it last year,” said Bruins assistant coach Jay Pandolfo. “He’s done the work and he looks a lot better. I think part of the situation last year was that [Zboril] was put into more of a shutdown role while they gave [Thomas]Chabot (Ottawa Senators’ first round draft pick in 2015) more of the offensive opportunities.

Zboril’s production did fall off in his new role. The 19-year old Czech native was only able to put up 20 points(six goals) in 50 games for the Sea Dogs. While his offensive numbers declined, Saint Johns might have done Zboril an incredible favor. Zboril’s shutdown role for the Sea Dogs gave him a taste of the Claude Julien system.

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“It was hard to be in a different role last year [in Saint John], but when I went to World Juniors, I kind of cleared my head a little bit,” said Zboril. “When I came back from the playoffs it just got better and better and I made the adjustment, so I was playing much more decently.”

Good things happen when the players can play to the Bruins bench boss’ system. It helped the Bruins to two Stanley Cup Finals, and the Cup in 2011. The Bruins were happy overall with Zboril’s work, especially when he was playing a style of hockey that mirrors the Bruins.

“[Zboril] took it and he played really well defensively,” offered Pandolfo on Zaboril’s performance last season. “It might have hurt his numbers a little bit, but I don’t think we’re too concerned about it.”

The Boston Bruins might make a change in his development next season. While the B’s were satisfied with Zboril, they seemed less satisfied playing in Quebec. The Bruins might see Zboril head back to the Czech Republic for a year. Having him playing against adults may be a better move for him next season.

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“I would be really glad if I could make the team this year, so I’m going to work on it really hard. I wanted to make it so bad. When it comes to [NHL camp] in September, I am going to do everything I can to do that,” said Zboril of his hopes for next season. “Whether it’s in practice or in a game, when I’m tired I kind of just tell myself that I’m tired. I need to push myself and overcome it, and that’s one of my main problems on the ice. When I’m tired I just kind of burn out and tell myself I can’t do anything more on the ice. But I actually can do it.”

We’ll see how ready Zboril is for the big time when training camp starts in September.

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