Zboril looks to show he's embracing his Bruins' improvement plan

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WILMINGTON, Mass. – Jakub Zboril had a couple of missions headed into his second development camp with the Bruins.

The 2015 first-round pick wanted to show up in much better physical shape along with the rest of his fellow prospects, after his conditioning was an issue last summer, and Zboril also wanted to show that he’s working his mental toughness. 

The 19-year-old Zboril knew he wasn’t close to his best last July and that raised questions when he followed up with a season in the Quebec Major Junior League where his numbers were down from his draft season.

“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. “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.

“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. 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.”

The 6-foot, 184-pounder also tends to have his focus drift when fatigue sets in during drills at the development camp. That’s something the Bruins need to see improvement on as Zboril gets closer to being a pro. The talent is very clear in his skating, shooting and passing, as well the ability to win battles in the defensive zone, but now the focused, intense work ethic in the players’ toolbox need to always keep matching the tools.

“He’s in better shape for sure as far as body fat and body composition,” said Providence Bruins assistant coach Kevin Dean. “I’d have to see him in a game to make an assessment on how much he’s really improved. As far as practice goes, I’d like to see him a little bit more focused at times. You can see that he’s incredibly talented and that he skates really well.

“You can see when the game starts or even in the small-ice games, you can see that he makes little plays and is effective. For his development, it’s going to be about becoming a pro and learning to come to the rink where he’s going to have the mindset that he’s going to get better every day. With that mindset and his talent, I think he’s going to be pretty good.”

Zboril went from 13 goals and 33 points in 44 games for the Saint John Sea Dogs two years ago to six goals and 20 points in 50 games for the Sea Dogs last season. That prompted speculation from some in the media that the Czech-born teenager was trending toward being a bust.

Bruins management is chalking last season up to a slow start and also to an instance where Zboril was playing more of a shutdown role, while Ottawa Senators 2015 first-round pick Thomas Chabot was more featured as the offensive defenseman.

“[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 Chabot more of the offensive opportunities.

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

While it doesn’t appear that Zboril is in line to compete for an NHL job this fall at training camp, there is some speculation that he might end up somewhere besides the QMJHL if the Bruins aren’t happy with his role on the Saint John team. That would leave Europe as the only other viable option given his age restrictions with the AHL as a junior hockey player, but for his part Zboril seems to have tunnel vision on winning an NHL job right here, right now.

“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, who then reeled off the other thing the 19-year-old is pushing to improve in what could become a nice rebound year for the prospect. “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.”

Zboril’s week at B’s camp has been a nice step in his development. Now, the 14th overall pick in 2015 needs to simply keep doing the work with very clear and present needs opening up among Boston’s blue line group. 

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