Taken by Boston with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Zboril was projected to be a great two-way defenseman, but it hasn't worked out that way. The 26-year-old just hasn't been able to earn a regular spot with the Bruins, logging only 76 career NHL games. In 2022-23, he recorded a goal, four points, six PIM, 31 hits and 19 blocks in 22 contests while averaging 13:17 of ice time. Dmitry Orlov and Connor Clifton both departed in free agency over the summer, which might create an opening for Zboril to play a bigger role in 2023-24. He certainly needs to compete hard for any chance he can get because the defenseman's entering the final season of his two-year, $2.275 million contract and is running out of opportunities to prove he can be an NHL regular.
Zboril's 2021-22 campaign was totally derailed by a torn ACL suffered last December. Expected to be sidelined for 6-to-9 months, Zboril encountered no setbacks in his rehab and entered training camp ready to go. Although he has zero goals and a dozen assists in 54 career NHL games over parts of three seasons, Zboril could be a regular for the Bruins this coming year, at least until Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk return from their respective shoulder surgeries. Nonetheless, he can be ignored in most fantasy circle.
Zboril spent all of 2019-20 with AHL Providence, where he amassed 19 points in 58 games. It was the third year in a row he finished just shy of 20 points in the minors. With the departures of Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug in the offseason, Zboril will get his shot for a full-time NHL job in 2020-21. He'll likely start the year on the third pairing, which makes it unlikely to see much more than 10 points out of the first-round pick from 2015, which will keep him off the radar in most single-year formats.
Overall, the 2015 first-rounder recorded four goals and 19 points to go along with a plus-12 rating in 68 games for AHL Providence in his first season as a pro. A strong finish to his campaign signaled that the 21-year-old's game is starting to round out and he could make a run at an NHL job as soon as next season. With blue-line prospects Rob O'Gara and Ryan Lindgren previously having been dealt by the Bruins, Zboril -- who is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds -- and Providence teammate Jeremy Lauzon profile as the organization's next wave of young talent on the back line.
Now set to begin his pro career, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft could potentially push for a spot with the big club to start the 2017-18 campaign, but it would probably take a slew of injuries for the 20-year-old to land a roster spot. An offensive-minded defenseman with a bit of a mean streak, Zboril is coming off a 2016-17 season that saw him record nine goals and 41 points in 50 games for QMJHL Saint John. While fellow youngsters Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo have already graduated to the NHL, Zboril heads Boston's next wave of blue line prospects, a group that also includes Jeremy Lauzon, Matt Grzelcyk, Rob O'Gara and Ryan Lindgren.
Zboril, who was drafted 13th overall by the Bruins in the 2015 draft, saw his prospect stock take a temporary dip last season, after his production with the Saint John Sea Dogs dropped to six goals and 20 points (down from a 13/20/33 line in 44 games in 2014-15) in 50 QMJHL game. While he still needs to quiet those who have expressed concerns regarding his work ethic, Zboril still profiles as an offensive-minded defenseman with a bit of a mean streak -- something that would no doubt be welcomed by the B's faithful in Beantown. With the Bruins hungry for immediate blue line help, Zboril -- along with the likes of fellow youngsters Brandon Carlo and Jeremy Lauzon -- could make a run at a roster spot with the big club as soon as this season.
Selected 13th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Zboril is slated to return to Saint John for another season in the QMJHL. The 18-year-old native of the Czech Republic is coming off a 2014-15 campaign in which he notched 13 goals and 20 assists in 44 contests. While it will take some time before Zboril makes a legitimate push for an NHL roster spot, when he does, he could attain fantasy relevance down the road, given that he is considered an offensive defenseman with a bit of a mean streak.
