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Heading into the 2018 NHL Draft, Swedish defenceman Rasmus Dahlin, is getting the majority of the spotlight, but there is another Swedish defender who is pretty good in his own right. Adam Boqvist has been living in Dahlin’s shadow but deserves some praise in his own right. Boqvist only has one assist playing in 15 games for Brynas IF in the SHL, and two more assists in seven games with Almtuna in the Allsvenskan.
Playing against his own age group, Boqvist has been dominant. He had eight points in five games at the Ivan Hlinka, and 14 goals and 24 points in 25 games in the Swedish Under-20 league. He also put up nine points in nine games at the U-18 level (five nations and exhibition games). Boqvist is the younger brother of Jesper Boqvist, who was a second-round pick of the New Jersey Devils last year. An August birthday, he will be one of the younger players in the draft.
Adam Boqvist Scouting Report
Defense — Shoots Right
Born August 15th, 2000 — Falun, Sweden
Height 5’11 — Weight 170 lbs [180 cm / 77 kg]
Skating
Boqvist is an outstanding skater. He has excellent speed and acceleration in both directions. He also has tremendous edgework and pivots allowing him to transition from offence to defence quickly and vice-versa. His agility is also top notch, and he can change directions on a dime. This skating becomes the foundation for an excellent two-way game. He is able to rush the puck up the ice, or pinch at the blueline and still get back defensively. His strong skating also allows him to cover a ton of ice and to maintain excellent positioning.
Offensive Game
Boqvist also has the outstanding vision and the ability to thread the needle on passes. He is a very aggressive player, willing to join or lead the rush and to make pinches at the blue line. Boqvist has a tremendous shooting arsenal. He gets a lot of power on his wrist shot and has a quick and deceptive release. He also has a great slapshot and one-timer from the point. Boqvist understands how to keep his shot low, and on the net, leading to tip-ins and rebounds for teammates.
Boqvist is smart in the offensive zone. He walks the line to create passing and shooting lanes. He is poised with the puck and has the patience to wait for plays to open up. Boqvist almost always seems to make the smart play with the puck, whether on the point or in transition.
Defensive Game
Defensively, Boqvist maintains his position and gap control through his strong footwork. He is willing to play a physical game in the corners and in front of the net but is limited by his lack of size. Boqvist is not afraid to take a hit to make a play. His stick quickly puck checks opponents and creates loose pucks. He retrieves pucks quickly and can skate them out of the zone or create offence with a good first pass. Boqvist is capable of making long break-away passes on the breakout.
Projection and Comparison
It is likely that Boqvist needs a bit more development time, as he needs to bulk up. He has struggled as a 17-year-old while playing in the Swedish Men’s leagues, and so making the jump to the NHL immediately seems unlikely. Expect to spend another year overseas, and to be a big part of the Swedish team at the World Juniors. Boqvist has all the tools and potential to be a franchise defenseman at the NHL level, he just needs time. In terms of style, he plays a game that is reminiscent of John Klingberg, but this is a style comparison only and not one based on talent.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the many highlight packages of Boqvist that are available on youtube.
Check back tomorrow for the next prospect on our draft board.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 15: Adam Boqvist #3 of the Sweden Nationals turns up ice against the Finland Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 15, 2018, in Plymouth, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
