The Boston Bruins play their first game of the 2025-26 regular-season against the Washington Capitals on Oct. 8. With this, the Bruins are now only 67 days away from opening night, at the time of this writing. Thus, the new season is certainly starting to get closer.
With the Bruins' regular-season starting off in 67 days, now seems like the perfect time to take a look at the history of No. 67 when it comes to the Original Six club. It is certainly an uncommon number in Bruins history, as only two players have sported the number thus far. While this is the case, the two players who wore No. 67 for the Bruins are certainly interesting in their own ways.
Nevertheless, let's discuss each former Bruins player who No. 67 for the team and look at how their time with Boston went.
Benoit Pouliot, LW (2011-12)
Benoit Pouliot was the first player to wear No. 67 in Bruins history during the 2011-12 season. After spending the two previous seasons as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, Pouliot signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Bruins during the 2011 NHL off-season.
Pouliot provided the Bruins with decent secondary offensive production during the 2011-12 season, as he recorded 16 goals, 16 assists, 32 points, and a plus-18 rating. The 2005 fourth-overall pick also was noticeable when it came to the physical side of the game, as he finished the campaign with 97 hits.
Pouliot's time with the Bruins ended after one season, as the Original Six club traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Michel Ouellet and a 2012 fifth-round pick, which was used to select former Bruins forward Seth Griffith.
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In a recent article for <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah">The Hockey News Utah</a>, Spencer Lazary <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/3-potential-utah-mammoth-trade-candidates-for-2025-26">discussed three potential trade candidates</a> for the Utah Mammoth. With the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> needing another top-six forward, one name certainly stands out from the trio Lazary discussed - Nick Schmaltz.
Following his time with the Bruins, Pouliot became quite the journeyman, as he had stops with the Lightning, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Buffalo Sabres. Overall, he continued to be a solid player after his tenure with the Bruins, as he had three seasons with at least 14 goals and 34 points in his final six years in the NHL.
In 625 games over 12 NHL seasons, Pouliot recorded 130 goals, 133 assists, 263 points, 371 penalty minutes, 685 hits, and a plus-25 rating. His final season in the NHL was during the 2017-18 campaign with the Buffalo Sabres, where he had 13 goals, 19 points, 69 hits, and a minus-8 rating. This would mark the end of his professional hockey career, and he certainly had a solid one.
Jakub Zboril, D (2018-19 to 2022-23)
Jakub Zboril is undoubtedly the player who Bruins fans remember more who wore No. 67 for the Original Six club. This is because the 6-foot-1 defenseman was expected to become a big part of the Bruins' core for several years, but it ultimately never came to fruition.
The Bruins selected Zboril with the 13th overall pick of their infamous 2015 NHL Entry Draft. At the time, Zboril was considered one of the top blueliners from that draft class, but he never blossomed into the top-four defenseman that the Bruins hoped he would during his time with the club. In fact, he had trouble becoming a full-time NHL defenseman due to the Bruins' strong blueline depth and his injury trouble. He also did not get his first chance with the Bruins until the 2018-19 season.
In 76 games over four seasons with the Bruins from 2018-19 to 2022-23, Zboril recorded one goal, 15 assists, 16 points, 28 penalty minutes, 121 hits, and an even plus/minus rating. His top season with the Bruins was during the 2020-21 campaign, as he recorded career highs with nine assists, 33 blocks, and 63 hits in 42 games. However, he was never able to build off that momentum, as he played in just 32 games over his final two NHL seasons with the Black and Gold.
Zboril's tenure with the Bruins certainly ended in a tough fashion for the former top prospect. Zboril did not make the Bruins' NHL roster out of training camp for the 2023-24 season and was placed on waivers. He would be sent down to the Providence Bruins after clearing waivers, where he recorded nine assists and a minus-5 rating in 31 games with the AHL squad. His time with the Bruins would come to an end later that season at the 2024 NHL trade deadline, as he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 2027 third-round pick in exchange for current Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke.
After being traded to the Blue Jackets, Zboril finished the year with their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, where he had four assists and a minus-2 rating in 15 games. He then spent this past overseas with HC Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga after failing to earn a contract with the New Jersey Devils from his professional tryout (PTO). In 30 games with the Czech club, he had two goals, 12 assists, 14 points, and a plus-4 rating. Now, he is a free agent again, as he recently terminated his contract with HC Pardubice.
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