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Boston Bruins: Ranking Don Sweeney’s First Round Draft Picks

By Scott Roche

Boston Bruins (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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SUNRISE, FL – JUNE 26: Jakub Zboril poses after being selected 13th overall by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 26, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – JUNE 26: Jakub Zboril poses after being selected 13th overall by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 26, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

4. Jakub Zboril

One of the top-rated prospects of the 2015 draft, Jakub Zubroil was Sweeney’s first selection at No. 13. A physical defensemen at 6-foot-0 and 203 pounds, he’s not afraid to stand up for a teammate or drop the gloves.

A left-handed shot, he likes to jump into the offensive rush. He has 46 assists in three seasons with the P-Bruins. Currently, he is on loan from the Bruins to Czech Extraliga Club HC Kometa Brno until the NHL is ready to begin training camp.

He re-signed with the Bruins for two years at $1.45 million in October. If the Bruins don’t make a major move to add a defenseman from outside the organization prior to beginning the season, he has a chance to make decisions difficult for coach Bruce Cassidy when it comes time to cuts in camp.

Boston Bruins
TORONTO, ONTARIO – NOVEMBER 15: Urho Vaakanainen #58 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on November 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

3. Urho Vaakanainen

The second defensemen on this list, he is regarded as the Bruins’ top defensive prospect and like Zboril, Urho Vaakanainen will be competing in training camp for a bottom-six spot on defense.

Selected 18th in the 2017 draft, Vaakanainen played in five games with Boston last season when the Bruins defense was hit with injuries in the middle of the year. In those five games, he was a steady presence on defense and showed he belonged.

For the second straight season, he had 14 points in 56 AHL games in Providence, but he is not known to be an offensive producer. A 21-year old Finnish left-handed shot, his development continues and sooner or later he will call Boston home full-time. Sweeney would be wise to hold on to him and not trade him.

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