FEATURE: Boqvist Makes Full-Time NHL Jump in Rookie Campaign

By all accounts, the original plan for Adam Boqvist in 2019-20 was one largely focused on development in the AHL.
A first-year pro who already had the obvious offensive tools in his game, he self-admittedly had some catching up to do on the other side of the puck. A adjustment year in Rockford largely focused on becoming a more rounded player with perhaps a taste of the NHL level would set him up for an impact role heading into the 2020-21 season. But with injuries on the Blackhawks blue line and a slow start to the year for the team, opportunity knocked for Boqvist in early November.

"I was really nervous when I first got called up," he said looking back. "I think that's every hockey player's dream, to play in the NHL and get the first call-up. When you sit next to Duncan (Keith), (Patrick) Kane, (Jonathan) Toews, 'Seabs' (Brent Seabrook), Corey (Crawford) and everyone, it doesn't feel real. You remember like it was yesterday watching hockey with your mom and dad and brother on your couch back home. It's really cool to live my dream and be better every day."
Boqvist took full advantage of his opportunity, though, and answered impressively.
Paired with veteran Keith right off the bat -- a balance of Boqvist's offensive talents and Keith's defensive ability to make up for any rookie mistakes turned the other way -- he scored in his second NHL contest on Nov. 3 and he was firmly an NHL player from essentially then on out.
"We think they can be a big part of it (and) they can be a big part of helping us win,"
head coach Jeremy Colliton said that night
of Boqvist and fellow-rookie Kirby Dach's ability to impact the roster at a young age. "We want to expose them to just the right amount so they can gain confidence and I think they'll get better and better as the year goes on. That's the idea ... They don't look scared out there -- that's important. When they do make mistakes, we like to have the other guys insulate them a little bit."

As expected, the year did have its highs and lows, including a healthy scratch in late November, a shoulder injury in late December and again in early February. But, all told, the rookie scored 13 points (4G, 9A) in 41 regular season games, often played top minutes at 5-on-5 and later on on the power play, solidifying himself as one of the faces of the future on the Blackhawks blue line.
"This year was really good for me," the defenseman said. "I got a lot of experience. Playoffs, playing big minutes, playing less minutes -- everything."
"I think I took a step in my defensive game" he added. "It's always been my lesser good part of my game, playing in D zone. Now, when I play against men and had Duncan on my side every shift, I think that was the biggest thing I got better on this season … I kind of was a little bit nervous at the start playing my first couple games. Right before the break I think I played my best hockey."
Following the season's pause, the playoffs were another learning experience for Boqvist. In a faster, more physical playoff environment, he wasn't able to find the scoresheet in eight games played and at times struggled defensively against opponents' top lines. Head coach Jeremy Colliton scratched Boqvist for Game 2 of the First Round series against Vegas, before returning for the final three games alongside Calvin de Haan on the second pairing.
"We're hoping Boqy with a day of rest can come back potentially with another level for us," Colliton said after Game 2.
"Young players, they do have some ups and downs," Senior Vice President/General Manager Stan Bowman said of Boqvist and the playoff debutants as a whole. "What you're trying to see with players is the ability to bounce back if they have any kind of set back. It's not always a straight line, forward progression, as much as we would like it to be. There's nothing like that experience of what it was like in Edmonton in the bubble, to see what those games are like … I think for our young group in general, we're hoping they can take the next step, which is to bring consistency."

For Boqvist, he's looking to take what he learned as a whole in year one and improve over his first offseason to take another big step in his development next year.
"You obviously want to be bigger and stronger so you can skate better, shoot better, handle the guys in the corner better, in front of the net -- everything like that," he said of his focus in the coming months. "I'm not going to be the guy that's going to give out big hits and put them up in the glass all the time, I'm going to use my stick more and my feet, but I'm still going to be able to push them away and stuff like that. I want to be stronger in my upper body and legs. That's my biggest thing right now."
What was set to be a big year for development for Boqvist turned into an even bigger year than he could've imagined. He's a full-time NHLer at now just 20 years old and he's ready to make the full-time impact of one over the course of 82 games.
"I'm just going to come back and show them that I want to be a bigger part of the team," he said plainly. "Help the team to win and win a Stanley Cup."