Blue-liner Adam Boqvist is the latest budding star to suit up for Knights
From the seventh-last selection in the 2017 CHL Import Draft to a star first-pairing defenceman.
That’s the story of Adam Boqvist, the London Knights blue-liner turned Chicago Blackhawks prospect who tormented the rival Windsor Spitfires as he decorated the scoresheet over four quarter-final contests, including an incredible four-goal outburst in a pivotal Game 3.
In all, Boqvist wrapped up the opening round with six goals to his credit – the most in the OHL playoffs – while also picking up one assist, demonstrating the skill set the Knights saw in him when they first called his name two years ago.
Still, his selection came with some risk, as the Swedish-born Boqvist had only ever skated in his native leagues and there was no guarantee he’d bring his game to North America.
“It was a pick we knew that there was a chance, but it wasn’t high percentage. We needed a lot of things to go right,” Knights associate general manager Rob Simpson told Ryan Pyette of the London Free Press. “We had the luxury that we could take that chance and spend time recruiting and show him our development program and what it means to be a Knight.”
It’s a move that paid off in the end, and something that came to fruition thanks to the Knights’ ability to build a thriving program that any up-and-comer would want to be a part of. A premier OHL franchise over the past two-plus decades, the Knights are currently enjoying their 22nd consecutive playoff appearance, while also continuing to churn out a host of future NHL talent, a list that, among others, includes defencemen Olli Maatta (Pittsburgh), Victor Mete (Montreal), Nikita Zadorov (Colorado), and current Knights captain Evan Bouchard (Edmonton).
In London, Boqvist has gotten the opportunity to learn the North American game, honing his skills under Knights longtime bench boss Dale Hunter, while ultimately preparing for a promising pro career with the Blackhawks.
“(Boqvist) has been playing well defensively and it translates over. (Former Knights forward) Johnny (Tavares) goes to the net and that’s how he gets rewarded. Adam was rewarded too,” Hunter told Pyette following Boqvist’s four-goal performance in Game 3. “Good things happen when you do the right thing on the ice.”
If his playoff performance isn’t evidence enough, Boqvist showed that he needed little time to adjust to his new environment as he racked up 60 points during the regular season to lead all London defencemen and finish third in team scoring. His 20 goals also sat second among all OHL rearguards.
The budding blue-liner brings tremendous offensive instincts and an overall enticing skill set that blends exceptional vision, even greater mobility, and an invaluable ability to work the power play. Together, those attributes made him an intriguing first-round draft choice by Chicago last June. Now less than a year later, his first season in the junior ranks is showing his selection to be an astute pick by the storied franchise.
“The trajectory is very positive, very encouraging,” Blackhawks vice-president of amateur scouting Mark Kelley told the Chicago Tribune’s Jimmy Greenfield earlier this season. “He’s got a lot of hockey left in him this year. We expect (London) to play in the conference final and have a good chance to go to the Memorial Cup … which can be huge in his development.”
The second round of the Canadian Hockey League postseason begins this weekend when the London Knights will go head-to-head with the Guelph Storm. For complete OHL playoff preview coverage, click here.
