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Kalman: Bruins Prospect Jakub Zboril Making Strides In Right Direction

WILMINGTON (CBS) – It was almost a case of déjà vu for Bruins prospect Jakub Zboril leading up to development camp last week.

Zboril, who was drafted 13th in the 2015 NHL Draft, infamously failed the conditioning exam when he attended his first Bruins development camp shortly after his draft day. In the lead-up to this year's camp, things looked dicey.

"I had some problems. The week before I left for here I got a little bit sick," Zboril explained last week during a post-practice chat at Ristuccia Arena. "I had like fever, so I didn't move for almost a week. So I wasn't in that good shape. But in better shape than last year for sure."

Zboril conquered the conditioning test this year despite his inability to properly prepare and then played some fine hockey during the four days of on-ice practices. The 19-year-old might not be ready to challenge for a NHL job this fall, and might be developing a little slower than hoped for someone drafted so high, but he's at least progressing in the right direction.

As it turns out, Zboril's drop in offensive production might've been more of a case of his role changing than his play dropping off. He had 20 points this season after he had 33 in 2014-15. With Thomas Chabot, who was selected by Ottawa at 18 in 2015, around, St. John's of the QMJHL wanted Zboril to focus more on a defensive role. Chabot had 11 goals and 45 points in 2015-16.

Zboril didn't adjust to his new role overnight.

"I had a kind of problem to adjust for it at first, at the beginning of the year," Zboril said. "But then I went to the World Juniors and it cleared my head somehow. When I got back to St. John's I felt very good. I knew what was my role and I just got into it and I felt pretty good."

General manager Don Sweeney has restocked the Bruins prospect pool by making nine picks in the first two rounds of each of the past two drafts. The prospects are going to all develop at their own pace. But progress, regardless of how fast, is the most important thing.

Sweeney saw positive signs in Zboril's performance last week.

"He's much more prepared this year. And you expect that," Sweeney said. "You take the experience that he got last year. He had a year that was up and down a little bit for himself, in particular offensively. Went into a little bit more of a shutdown role and played very well at times in that role that they had identified for him. He's in much better shape. You see his skill set that certainly self-selects in that regard. But he's not unlike everybody else. We're going to continue to push in the areas that he needs to develop and work at it. But he's got a fundamental base that is awfully good."

Zboril learned a lot last season about playing different roles and how to adjust to different requests from a coaching staff. He'll find out this fall, after attending Bruins training camp, what's in store for him at St. John's. There had been some rumors that maybe he wouldn't return to the QMJHL, but Zboril wants to make sure he's in North America and doesn't lose touch with the Bruins.

"No, I don't want to [go overseas]. Because I think for my perspective it would be hard to get back into it," he said. "I would kind of be hiding myself from the Bruins' eyes. So it would be harder for me for getting back."

The Bruins will be watching him closely and hoping that Zboril continues to make strides in the right direction.

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