BSH 2018 Community Draft Board, No. 7: Adam Boqvist

Next in the countdown is “the other Swedish defenseman”, Adam Boqvist.

BSH 2018 Community Draft Board, No. 7: Adam Boqvist

Position/Team: D / Brynas IF, (SHL)
2017-18 Statistics: 0 G, 1 A in 15GP
Size: 5’11”, 170

Pre-draft rankings

No. 2 (Euro Skaters) by NHL Central Scouting
No. 7 by Future Considerations
No. 8 by ISS Hockey
No. 5 by Pronman/The Athletic (Midseason)

What’s there to like?

Despite the stats you see above, Boqvist had a very impressive 2017-18 season, just with Brynas’ J20 team. There in the SuperElit league, Boqvist posted 14 goals and 10 assists in 25 games, including 5 points in 3 playoff games. After his strong performance last year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him have a great full season with Brynas.

Now, what makes Adam Boqvist a top 10 talent? Much like the other top Swedish defenseman in this draft — you may have heard of him, his name rhymes with Dasmus Rahlin — Boqvist’s offensive potential is off the charts. He’s one of the better skaters in this draft class and he commands the offensive zone. He’s certainly not afraid to let a shot go from the point and for good reason, he has most likely one of, if not the quickest release among defensemen and all skaters in general. Boqvist has demonstrated a great ability to get pucks through quickly with that shot, and also proven he can score with it.  He typically doesn’t utilize his one-timer all that often, which makes his 14 goals all the more impressive.

Passing and skating are also both tremendous strengths for the slick Swedish defenseman, he’s able to carry the puck through the neutral zone and make the great outlet pass. For Sweden during the U18 World Junior Championships, he quarterbacked their power play and did a great job of it. Boqvist was point per game at the U18 WJC including a two goal game against Canada in the preliminaries.

Here’s a highlight package for Boqvist, video credit to bigwhite06

What’s not to like?

Boqvist’s greatest asset is his offensive ability, and sometimes he’s a little too aware of that. He tends to be a little too focused on starting the play the other way before the puck has actually been retrieved which can bite him. His positioning in his own zone will definitely need some work, along with building upper body strength. Being just 170 pounds, Boqvist does at times get bodied a bit in his own zone. To be fair, he does try to offset this by having an active stick in his own zone and disrupt plays that way.

I’d be very shocked if Boqvist made the team of whoever drafts him based off of these two detractors. However, that does not equate to him being a “bad” defender. It mainly just implies he’s got the most work to do in that regard.

How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?

Boqvist would immediately become the team’s best right handed defense prospect, which essentially just means I’d rank him above Phillippe Myers. He’d also most likely become the best defense prospect in general, assuming Travis Sanheim stays in Philly all of next year. It would definitely be nice to get another top RHD prospect to go along with Myers, considering the majority of the Flyers best defense prospects are lefties.

Could the Flyers actually get him?

Feels like a broken record with these top guys, but probably not. I can’t see Boqvist slipping all that far, especially with the likes of the Rangers, Blackhawks, and Senators in the top 10.

Additional reading

2018 Prospect Profile: Adam Boqvist (Winging It In Motown)

Boqvist is your prototypical Swedish defenseman in every way, shape, and form. A brilliant skater with high-end agility in all four directions, Boqvist makes great use of his agility when maneuvering around with and without the puck on his stick. Boqvist’s edgework is very good, and he can change directions and cut laterally to open up the ice for himself. He has a very powerful first step, and can accelerate quickly to get to top speeds, allowing him to rush the puck up ice and avoid forecheckers.

Into the countdown comes a new name. Welcome, Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi— C, Assat (Liiga) — 10 G, 19 A in 57 GP

A smart forward with a dangerous shot, Kotkaniemi possesses a high hockey IQ and determination with the skills to back it up. Positions himself well and often seems to be a step ahead of plays. Stickhandling and creativity allow him to split professional defences as a teenager. Decent size and frame, yet a very capable skater.

— via Elite Prospects

2018 BSH Community Draft Board

1. Rasmus Dahlin — D, Frolunda (SHL) (no vote)
2. Andrei Svechnikov — RW, Barrie (OHL) (60% of the vote)
3. Filip Zadina — LW, Halifax (QMJHL) (74%)
4. Brady Tkachuk — LW, Boston University (NCAA) (57%)
5. Oliver Wahlstrom — C/RW, USNTDP (USHL) (40%)
6. Quinn Hughes — D, Michigan University (NCAA) (50%)
7. Adam Boqvist — D, Brynas IF (SHL) (42%)
8. ???

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Please use your vote below to answer the following question: If all of the players listed were available when the Flyers were on the clock, who would you want them to pick?

Who should be No. 8 on the 2018 BSH Community Draft Board?