Instead of signing with hometown club Kometa Brno, as was heavily speculated, the former Boston Bruins first-round pick has signed with Dynamo Pardubice.
Several days ago, Czech Extraliga club Kometa Brno announced that negotiations were underway with hometown player and former NHL defenseman Jakub Zbořil. On Sunday, however, rival Extraliga club Dynamo Pardubice announced that it had signed the 27-year-old to a five-year deal.
“We are significantly strengthening defense,” said Pardibice sports director Petr Sýkora. “Kuba has been on our list of potential signings for a long time. We know what he can offer and we believe he will fit perfectly with us. He is an intelligent player with good character.”
Pardubice finished first overall in the Extraliga regular season last year but lost the seventh game of the finals at home in overtime to Oceláři Třinec. The team’s roster, which already included Lukáš Sedlák, Libor Hájek, Martin Kaut and Lukáš Radil, has since been augmented with the additions of Jiří Smejkal, Roman Červenka, Andrej Šustr and now Zbořil.
Through 12 games this season, Pardubice is tied for first in the Extraliga standings with 25 points, but Sýkora – the former NHLer who is also the Pardubice club’s all-time scoring leader – obviously thinks the team can be better
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