Boston Bruins: Revisiting the Three 2015 First Round Draft Picks

Sweeny’s first selection was defenseman Jakub Zboril.

A top-rated and highly regarded defenseman coming into the draft, Sweeney grabbed Jakub Zboril with the 13th selection. He has spent the majority of his time in the Bruins organization in the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins.

In three seasons with the P-Bruins, the 23-year old has 11 goals, 46 assists for 57 points and a plus-35. A left-handed shot, the 6-foot-0, 195-pound Zboril is a good two-way defenseman that is as steady as can be. He was one of the more physical defensemen that Providence had this season.

Zboril, who made his NHL debut against the Dallas Stars on November 17, 2018, could be on the verge of breaking into the Bruins’ top-six defensive unit. With captain Zdeno Chara still waiting to see where he play next season and with Torey Krug leaving the Bruins in free agency to go to the St. Louis Blues, there could be an opening once training camp begins.

In September, the Bruins loaned Zboril to Czech Extaliga club, HC Kometa Brno in his home country. On October 14, Zboril agreed to a two-year, $1.45 million extension. With the Bruins defense still having moving parts that have to be answered and has the look of a group that is transitioning to a younger core, Zboril might have the opportunity to finally break into the top-six.