Draft ranking is not always based on potential. It it also based on chance of reaching the said potential. Zboril back then was arguably the safest defensemen in the draft. Great all around game while Chabot had already shown flaws defensively (which is why he got scratched). Chabot had the better offensive skillset for sure, but how many guys dominate the Q to neber even play a game in the NHL? A million. Until Chabot took a bigger role (going from 3rd pair to 1rst pair) he wss obviously no lt considered as good as Zboril. Only agter the injury of Zboril that people started to see that Chabot could play well defensively against top opposition.
Zboril was not a bad pick, that being said he has not had the best draft +1 season, if he can stay healthy he will deifnitely become a great NHL player. Chabot on the other hand had a great season.
Zboril wasn't even close to the safest defenseman in the draft. Hanifin, Provorov, Werenski, etc.. He wasn't a safe pick because he doesn't have a whole lot to fall back on. He's average sized, has average skill, average hockey sense and average skill. He has a great shot, but that's not enough to fall back on to make him a safe pick.
He was a terrible pick at 13, especially considering who was left on the board. It's not just hindsight either, felt that he was a 20-30 guy on draft day.
