Opinion: Jakub Zboril Needs a Change of Scenery

Photo: Michael Dwyer

Undoubtedly, most Bruins fans know of the 2015 blunder in the NHL Draft. Don Sweeney was thrust into the Bruins GM role and had three first round picks to use. Many expected the Bruins to use those picks via trade, but when the time came. Sweeney and company made all three selections: Jake DeBrusk, Zach Senyshyn, and Jakub Zboril.

We have had some closure on the Zach Senyshyn saga as he was moved to Ottawa and then turned to Europe to continue his career. With the Bruins placing Zboril on waivers, has the time come for Zboril to find his way out of Boston?

With the emergence of Mason Lohrei and the signing of Kevin Shattenkirk, the Bruins blue line has plenty of NHL capable bodies. Zboril has been stuck on the fringe of the roster for the last few seasons, never managing to solidify his role. While the NHL travel and paychecks must be nice, Zboril may want to get a chance to play and make an impact on an NHL roster at some point. Ultimately, if he remains on the fringe, the likelihood of a future contract continues to get slimmer.

While the Bruins are aging and in a period of retooling, the defensive group isn’t going to experience the turnover that the forward group will. If Zboril is on the waiver wire and struggling to find his way on this roster, it is time to move on from the player. The best-case scenario is Sweeney making him available via trade or including him in a trade deadline deal similar to Zach Senyshyn.

While there is no doubt, Zboril is a talented hockey player, and never would’ve made it to the NHL if that weren’t true. He has yet to translate any of those skills on the scorecard. The years of a defensive defenseman putting up low point totals are nearly gone. As shown above, Zboril isn’t helping light the lamp with any consistency, leaving his departure moderately unnoticed.

Related Article: 3 Things We Learned About The Bruins In The Preseason

What if he leaves Boston?

In the short term, this would leave a valuable roster spot available for the Bruins. Ian Mitchell, Mason Lohrei, and Kevin Shattenkirk all seem to be in the running for that spot, and as should be pointed out, all three options are cap savings compared to Zboril. Is 100k-400k in savings really that big of a deal? In the “Covid Cap Era,” that answer is yes.

The Bruins should do right by the player and try to find him a better situation that could set him up for future success. It’s obvious the Bruins defensive unit won’t have an opening for him to play serious minutes any time soon. Moving on from Zboril would put the 2015 NHL Draft focus solely on Jake DeBrusk, who is in the middle of a contract year himself.

Season 4. Episode 34. Marco? Polo? Bruins Benders Podcast

 Join the Bruins Benders Podcast as they cover the HOTTEST topics in the Boston Bruins market, along with…- Who will be the next Bruins coach? Sturm? Woodcroft? Leach?- Swayman wins gold with Team USA at the World Championships. Good sign?- Max Comtois has been linked to the Bruins? Thoughts?- Some Bruins' coaches on the way out, will the new coach be able to bring in his own guys?& Much More!Bruins Benders Premium Hoodies $55https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/get-bent-premium-hoodieBruins Benders Long Sleeve Tee $40https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-long-sleeve-tee-1Bruins Benders Tee $30https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-t-shirt-1For more from us, visit: insidetherink.com/bruins-bendersBoston Bruins Trade Rumors, Boston Bruins News, Boston Bruins, Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Nikita Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke, Parker Wotherspoon, Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, Justin Brazeau, Cole Koepke, Trent Frederic, Matthew Poitras, Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Oliver Wahlstrom, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Joe Sacco, Don Sweeney, Cam Neely, Brandon Carlo Trade#nhl #nhlbruins #hockey #bostonbruins #nhlplayoffs #bruins #nhlhockey #nhlmemes #boston #nhlallstar #nhldiscussion #nhlnews #nhledits #nhldraft #bruinsnation #nhlawards #nhltrade #hockeylife #tdgarden #nhlhighlights #bostonsports #bruinshockey #bruinsfan #nhlblackhawks #nhlglobalseries #nhlfi #nhlleafs #nhltrades #nhltradedeadline #nhlcanadiens #nhl #nhlnews #hockey #nhlhockey #nhlplayoffs #nhledits #nhldiscussion #nhlmemes #nhldraft #nhlallstar #hockeylife #hockeynews #hockeymemes #nhlhighlights #icehockey #sports #hockeyislife #nhlbruins #hockeyplayers #hockeyfan #hockeyplayer #hockeyedits #stanleycup #nhlawards #hockeygame #hockeyboys #hockeygram #hockeyfights #nhltrade #nhltrades 
  1. Season 4. Episode 34. Marco? Polo?
  2. Season 4. Episode 33. Sweens Extension
  3. Season 4. Episode 32. Dude, Where's My Coach?
  4. Season 4. Episode 31. The Draft Lottery
  5. Season 4. Episode 30. The Bruins Are Watching The Playoffs

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Connor Green

Managing Editor | Inside the Rink

Leave a Reply

Kashawn Aitcheson physicality

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Kashawn Aitcheson

Kashawn Aitcheson is a 6-foot-1, 198-pound left-shot defenceman from Toronto, Ontario. Born on September 21st, 2006, Aitcheson narrowly missed the cutoff for the 2024 NHL Draft, and is one of the oldest prospects in the 2025 class. Aitcheson has spent the last three seasons with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. He was also selected […]

Read More
Stuart Skinner

Opinion: Oilers’ Stuart Skinner Showing Some Steadiness Between the Pipes

When it comes to Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, one never knows what they are going to get. On one hand, one might see a version of Skinner, 26, who stands tall, comes up with big saves, does not get out of position, and does not allow soft goals. When this version of Skinner is […]

Read More

3 Takeaways From The Florida Panthers & Carolina Hurricanes Game 5 | 05/28/2025

“Big players make big plays at the biggest moments when you need them too.” That’s what Sam Reinhart had to say about his captain, Sasha Barkov, in his post-game interview. The Cats rallied from a disappointing first period to score three unanswered goals in the second. The eventual game winner scored by Verhaeghe developed from […]

Read More