Chicago Blackhawks: Top 10 Prospects Entering 2018

2. Adam Boqvist, D [18 years old]

Stats:

Brynas IF J20 (SuperElit) – 25 gp, 14 g, 10 a, 24 p (3 pgp, 3 g, 2 a, 5 p).

Brynas IF (SHL) – 15 gp, 0 g, 1 a, 1 p (3 pgp, 0 g, 0 a, 0 p).

Adam Boqvist is better known as the eighth overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft. He also holds the distinction of the first top 10 pick of the Stan Bowman era. Bowman has not had a home run first-round pick in his tenure as Chicago Blackhawks general manager, likely because he hasn’t had a top 10 pick.

So naturally, his first is a defenseman who is three years away from being an NHL regular. That’s just one year after drafting two other solid defensive prospects, including the one ahead of Boqvist on this list.

That’s not to criticize Boqvist, who has drawn comparisons from many to elite, multiple Norris winner Erik Karlsson. Boqvist deserved to be a top 10 pick this season, and very well might have been Stan Bowman’s best first-round pick of his career.

He was tied for 42nd in goal scoring in the Swedish SuperElit (2nd amongst all defensemen), came in second in defensive points per game (first with multiple games played), and tied for ninth in scoring for defensemen. In the playoffs, Boqvist was first in points per game and tied for fourth in scoring.

Boqvist even got 15 games in at the highest level in Sweden, even while not being productive (just one assist). He has an incredibly high ceiling – true number one defenseman, potentially one of the best offensive defensemen in the league – and a very good likelihood of becoming a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. He’s an excellent goal scorer already, and skates incredibly well. It’s his NHL readiness that drops him to number two.