Blackhawks: Will Adam Boqvist be a top-line defenseman next season?

Defensemen have been an issue for the Chicago Blackhawks over the past few years. There are finally some great up and comers on the roster, and one youngster, in particular, has been making a splash.

The Chicago Blackhawks drafted defenseman Adam Boqvist eighth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. Since that time, he has had expectations on him to quickly make it to the parent club and start producing effectively.

In his first full season of 2019-20, Boqvist started off with the Rockford Icehogs, racking up six points in fifteen games. This was good enough to get him a look with the Blackhawks, and he made an impression right away on head coach Jeremy Colliton. Boqvist soon made an immediate impact in Chicago.

Boqvist’s early success tallied him thirteen points over the 41 games he played before the Covid-19 stoppage. While this only put him on pace for a 26 point season, that is still a decent showing, especially for a rookie defenseman. He was paired for a decent amount of the season with veteran Duncan Keith, who undoubtedly helped him adjust to the NHL game and settle into the Blackhawks’ locker room.

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The Numbers

Regular Season
Games Played: 41
Goals: 4
Assists: 9

Playoffs
Games Played: 8
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

What’s Next For Boqvist

So, Boqvist will now be entering his next NHL season as one of the presumed top four defensemen on the Blackhawks’ roster. Will he slot into the top D line full time? It’s hard to say, but it’s definitely a possibility. After all, he played a decent amount of time on the first line last year, although other guys like Calvin de Haan and Olli Maatta spent time there as well.

There are also decent prospects waiting in the wings. Ian Mitchell will likely get a decent look, and it’s still possible the Hawks could take a defenseman with the 17th overall pick in the draft. Depending on the pick’s age, he could spend time with Chicago next year.

Boqvist was also benched during the playoffs by Coach Colliton, a decision that was heavily talked about. While this could be taken as insight into Colliton’s opinion of the young Swede, it was more than likely just an attempt to change the pace up.

So, while the young gun will definitely be an integral part of the Blackhawks’ back end for years to come, only time will tell whether or not he becomes the bonafide number one defenseman. With the start of the next season looming closer, we should soon find out.