Former Bruin Zboril Making Most of Opportunity in AHL Playoffs

Jakub Zboril saw what was going on around him at Boston Bruins’ Training Camp as they were preparing for the 2023-24 season. After playing in just 22 games for the Bruins in 2022-23, it was clear the team was looking to go in a different direction.

Eventually, the Bruins placed Zboril on waivers which cleared the way for him to go to the Providence Bruins. Meanwhile, he just wanted to play hockey. So he asked the Bruins for a trade.

Zboril Waited for Trade

That trade didn’t happen right away. It wasn’t until the 2024 Trade Deadline that Zboril was given the fresh start he was looking for. He was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of the trade that saw Andrew Peeke become a Bruin.

Zboril was then assigned to the Cleveland Monsters. His veteran presence plus some injuries to key players have allowed him an opportunity to show he still has plenty to give.

Zboril scored a big power-play goal on Saturday afternoon helping them to a 4-1 win in Game 2 of the North Division Finals against the Syracuse Crunch. The Monsters lead the best-of-five series 2-0. The Crunch will host Game 3 on Wednesday night hoping to avoid elimination.

Zboril stopped by postgame to talk about his opportunity with the Monsters, his exit from the Bruins and knowing he has his future to play for as a pending unrestricted free agent.

“At camp in Boston, they told me I was not gonna start in the top-6,” Zboril said. “I just wanted to play hockey, so I asked to be moved. Nothing was happening. I wasn’t really playing in Providence. They didn’t need me anymore, so they wanted to play their younger guys to let them grow, which I understood. I was just praying everyday to get a chance over here. So I’m really glad that it came.”

Adjusting to a New Team

The trade from the Bruins to the Blue Jackets was the first time Zboril was traded since being drafted in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft. While he was hoping for a trade, it was going to be an adjustment as well in certain aspects.

“The team I grew up with in Boston and Providence and then coming (to Cleveland), the system is kind of the same,” Zboril said. “So it wasn’t really hard for me to adjust. It was my first trade too so I was kind of scared and nervous coming into a new locker room because I’ve never done it before. But it’s an amazing group of guys. So they just embraced me and took me in as their own. I’m really grateful they made it easy for me.”

“Right now, I get the chance to play through my mistakes. Now if I make a mistake, I’m getting the next shift right away. I don’t have to be wait 10 minutes on the bench and be thinking about what I did wrong for a long time. I can afford to take a mistake because I know I will get a chance to actually prove them wrong and prove to myself I can actually do it. So I’m just slowly and surely building my confidence back up.”

Zboril acknowledged that over time, his confidence suffered because of the lack of opportunity he got and being afraid that one mistake will lead to long periods of time on the bench. The Monsters are allowing him an opportunity to do what he does best. “I’m always a guy who defends first. And then if I get a chance to contribute a little bit on offense, I’m doing to do that. I like being the offensive guy too.”