Coming into the season, there were a lot of questions marks surrounding the Boston Bruins. The defense was getting younger, there was going to be more playing time given to some of the prospects, and how would the power play survive without the services of David Pastrnsk for the first seven games?
The Bruins started out as the hottest team in the NHL and it was in large part due to some of the play of their younger players and one player that had a lot of questions surrounding him. Here is a look at three surprises early this season for the Black and Gold.
3. Jakub Zboril
It was clear when Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara left in free agency that the Bruins were going to go into the season with some of their younger blueliners. Zboril won an opening night roster spot out of training camp and was on the third pair with veteran Kevan Miller.
Zboril has played very well early in the season and the Bruins have needed everything they have got from him as the defense has been hit hard with injuries. With Brandon Carlo, Miller, and Jeremy Lauzon nursing injuries, Zboril, who missed two games this season, has been a consistent presence of defense.
Coach Bruce Cassidy has moved the rookie defensemen around with different partners during the injuries and he even earned a spot on the first paring with Charlie McAvoy. Zboril has also seen some time on the second power play unit, as well as some key penalty-killing moments. There are still some growing pains that he most likely goes through, but so far, he’s been a big part of the Bruins defense this season.