Chicago Blackhawks: Adam Boqvist to Rockford Is Best Move
By Ryan Fedrau
![CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 25: Adam Boqvist #27 of the Chicago Blackhawks advances the puck against Liam O'Brien #87 of the Washington Capitals during a preseason game at the United Center on September 25, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Capitals defeated the Blackhawks 6-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 25: Adam Boqvist #27 of the Chicago Blackhawks advances the puck against Liam O'Brien #87 of the Washington Capitals during a preseason game at the United Center on September 25, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Capitals defeated the Blackhawks 6-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fblackhawkup-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1177149776-850x560-283e87784af2022927413b75b53ead9f.jpg)
Chicago Blackhawks’ top defensive prospect, Adam Boqvist, has been sent to Rockford.
After a solid showing throughout the preseason and in the Traverse City prospect tournament, Adam Boqvist, 19, has been sent down to the Rockford IceHogs to start off the 2019-20 season.
That isn’t a surprising move, considering the amount of depth the Blackhawks have on defense and the players not having 2-way deals, so they’re stuck up in the NHL.
It’s better to have Adam Boqvist playing each game in Rockford and get more ice time, rather than being scratched in 41 NHL games and playing every other game, due to a crowded Blackhawks’ blue line.
Boqvist played well throughout the last month. He showed a lot of promise and the Chicago Blackhawks and their fans have to be excited about that.
What we saw was a fast, quick on his feet, magic hands defenseman that has a bright future in Chicago. His potential has gone through the roof, if it wasn’t already there.
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Going from the OHL to the AHL will help ease Boqvist’s transition to the NHL, since the speed of the AHL is a lot faster than the OHL, but not quite at the NHL level.
He is just moving up a step in competition, but as soon as he masters the AHL, we will see Adam Boqvist in the NHL.
At the end of the day, Boqvist is still learning and the Blackhawks would rather wait and create a star than rush him and hinder his development. Taking it slow on Boqvist could be a good thing if they’re patient with him.
If Adam Boqvist doesn’t come up at all during the 2019-20 season, you can almost guarantee he will be in the Chicago Blackhawks’ starting lineup in Game 1 of the 2020-21 NHL season. Let’s hope Stan Bowman and Co. know what they’re doing with Boqvist.