A day after announcing that rookie Kirby Dach would be staying in the NHL longer than his nine-game trial period, the Blackhawks announced today that 2018 first-round draft pick (eighth overall) defenseman Adam Boqvist has been recalled from Rockford.
Boqvist came into this season with an outside chance of making the NHL roster, but lost out in a numbers game. He was assigned to Rockford shortly before the team boarded a flight to head to Germany to face Eisbaren Berlin in a preseason game prior to their game against the Philadelphia Flyers to open the regular season.
ROSTER MOVE: Defenseman Adam Boqvist has been recalled from the @goicehogs. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/J8jolNGd80
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 31, 2019
Boqvist scored his first pro goal with Rockford last night against the San Antonio Rampage, which is his only point in his six games with the IceHogs. Even though there is a full boat of defensemen with the Blackhawks, Connor Murphy is on long-term injured reserve with a groin injury and Brent Seabrook has been a healthy scratch for the last two games. Boqvist also brings a level of raw talent that no one else on the Blackhawks’ defense can likely match.
Last season, developmental coach Brian Campbell watched over Boqvist closely as he blazed his way through the OHL season with the London Knights, piling up 60 points (20 goals, 40 assists) in 54 regular season games, and put up 13 points (10 goals, three assists) in 11 playoff games.