Bruins select Jakub Zboril with the 13th overall pick
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The Boston Bruins selected defenseman Jakub Zboril with the 13th pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Zboril was the highest-rated blue-liner remaining on the draft board, and one of the meanest overall. He will be an important prospect moving forward in the absence of Dougie Hamilton, who was traded Friday to Calgary.
2014-15 Stats
| Team | GP | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint John | 44 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 73 |
Overview
The Czech-born defenseman had a productive first season in North America for the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs, and his 13 goals set a new franchise record for rookie blue-liners.
The 18-year-old was named to the Rookie All-Star Team and was a finalist for the Michael Bossy Trophy awarded to the league's top professional prospect.
He registered four goals and two assists in five games for the Czech Republic at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and also represented his home country at the World Junior Hockey Championship that same year.
Zboril has demonstrated the ability to play physically while also providing an offensive spark.
He models his game after former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and lists Montreal Canadiens blue-liner P.K. Subban as his favorite player.
What the Scouts are Saying
"He's a great skater who carries the puck well," one NHL scout told ESPN.com's Corey Pronman.
"He's got a great physical game and can make plays in his own end," said another.
More observations from Pronman himself:
His footwork is very clean, with an easy stride and the power to get up in the rush. Zboril doesn't have standout puck skills, but he's a very calm and efficient passer who makes plays when under pressure.
He uses his frame well to win battles and box out forwards and still has room to fill out. Defensively, he shows solid value. His positioning and reads aren't perfectly tweaked yet, as I've seen him get beat a little too much, but he makes stops and can kill penalties at a fine level.