https://theathletic.com/850275/2019/03/05/why-adam-boqvist-likely-wont-be-ready-for-the-blackhawks-next-season/

Why Boqvist Likely Won't be Ready for NHL

What you hear is a big ol' whoosh of air going out of the McD, StanBo PR balloon. . .
- pdx2ord

Wow, I just read it, and am not encouraged. It sounds like the kid has never been asked to play defense at any level of his career.

Don Cherry says some crazy stuff, but, maybe drafting a big strong Canadian kid from the OHL or WHL isn’t always the worst idea.

Elbows IS the ultimate judge, just ask him.

In my humble opinion Karlsson is terrible defensively, better than Gus mainly because he doesn't make the mental mistakes Gus makes. I remember Andrew Shaw walking past Karlsson and I'm sure Karlsson is still looking for his jockstrap. Give me a younger Keith or Doughty over Karlsson any day.
- paulr

Wow, I just read it, and am not encouraged. It sounds like the kid has never been asked to play defense at any level of his career.

Don Cherry says some crazy stuff, but, maybe drafting a big strong Canadian kid from the OHL or WHL isn’t always the worst idea.
- scottak

Boqvist is in the perfect environment to learn the pro game ,and another year would be great . Don may say some crazy things you are right ,but on the draft there is a method to his madness ..

Wow, I just read it, and am not encouraged. It sounds like the kid has never been asked to play defense at any level of his career.

Don Cherry says some crazy stuff, but, maybe drafting a big strong Canadian kid from the OHL or WHL isn’t always the worst idea.
- scottak

I watch almost all London games on TV and have seen them live twice. Boqvist is improving defensively. Sweden don't teach systems anymore they teach skills and allow them to develop. What Boqvist can do cannot be taught and very few players can do what he does. Anyone can be taught to play defense. Defense is a matter of hard work, understanding positioning and patience.

Evan Bouchard of the Knights is a prototypical North American defenseman. He can play competently in all three zones. He very likely will be an NHL player for the next 10 years. But in all likelyhood Bouchard will be a good, not great, player. Boqvist currently is considerably better offensively than Bouchard but isn't close when he needs to play defense. The difference is Boqvist has a chance to be a special player, a star player, provided he learns all aspects of the game. Boqvist, unlike Bouchard, also has a chance to become a bust if he doesn't learn more than just being an offensive defenseman.

So the question is if you're a GM, do you take a chance and swing for the fences with Boqvist or do you make the safe play and lay down a bunt and move the runner to second with Bouchard?

Elbows IS the ultimate judge, just ask him.

In my humble opinion Karlsson is terrible defensively, better than Gus mainly because he doesn't make the mental mistakes Gus makes. I remember Andrew Shaw walking past Karlsson and I'm sure Karlsson is still looking for his jockstrap. Give me a younger Keith or Doughty over Karlsson any day.
- paulr

Gus also doesnt have the d-partners Karlsson has had.

I watch almost all London games on TV and have seen them live twice. Boqvist is improving defensively. Sweden don't teach systems anymore they teach skills and allow them to develop. What Boqvist can do cannot be taught and very few players can do what he does. Anyone can be taught to play defense. Defense is a matter of hard work, understanding positioning and patience.

Evan Bouchard of the Knights is a prototypical North American defenseman. He can play competently in all three zones. He very likely will be an NHL player for the next 10 years. But in all likelyhood Bouchard will be a good, not great, player. Boqvist currently is considerably better offensively than Bouchard but isn't close when he needs to play defense. The difference is Boqvist has a chance to be a special player, a star player, provided he learns all aspects of the game. Boqvist, unlike Bouchard, also has a chance to become a bust if he doesn't learn more than just being an offensive defenseman.

So the question is if you're a GM, do you take a chance and swing for the fences with Boqvist or do you make the safe play and lay down a bunt and move the runner to second with Bouchard?
- paulr

The optimal arrangement, IMO, is a mix. A team with 6 offensive D won’t go anywhere, nor would one with 6 big stay-at-home guys.

Think about the Hawk Cup teams. A rover, a big strong guy that can pass, a shot blocking D specialist and a hybrid puck mover

I am sure the front office are well aware of Boqvist's strengths and weaknesses and how long they anticipate it will take him to get to the NHL long before this article came out. While it has changed over the last number of years, very few teenagers are capable of playing in the NHL and there are even less defensemen. The Hawks and Hawk fans want a fully developed Boqvist, not a guy who is only capable of playing a partial game. The Hawks do not need another Gus situation. Another year in London under the tutelage of the Hunters then a stint in Rockford to get a taste of the pro game is my guess.
- paulr

The conundrum is a fully ripened Boqvist versus the "T&K window" - can they overlap?

Would rushing him to Rockford next season be counterproductive or does he really NEED another year in Juniors? Is there someone in Rockford that can provide the teaching/coaching that Boqvist needs?

Probably the best case scenario is Boqvist play in Rockford next season and be ready to step into Gustafsson's role in 2020/21.

Wow, I just read it, and am not encouraged. It sounds like the kid has never been asked to play defense at any level of his career.

Don Cherry says some crazy stuff, but, maybe drafting a big strong Canadian kid from the OHL or WHL isn’t always the worst idea.
- scottak

We can put Boqvist on one wing and Gus on the other. Do we have any other defensively inept defensemen in the organization that can play center? How about Forsling?

The conundrum is a fully ripened Boqvist versus the "T&K window" - can they overlap?

Would rushing him to Rockford next season be counterproductive or does he really NEED another year in Juniors? Is there someone in Rockford that can provide the teaching/coaching that Boqvist needs?

Probably the best case scenario is Boqvist play in Rockford next season and be ready to step into Gustafsson's role in 2020/21.
- EbonyRaptor

Or trade him now for some ready top 2 d-man or top-6 forward? If you are worried about window, take action right away. Why wait? There are other young dmen in the system you can wait on. Just trying to bring a different POV.

Or trade him now for some ready top 2 d-man or top-6 forward? If you are worried about window, take action right away. Why wait? There are other young dmen in the system you can wait on. Just trying to bring a different POV.
- powerenforcer

Well, no team that has a top 2 defenseman ready to break into the league (and cost controlled, too) is gonna trade him for a prospect, especially another defensive prospect.

The conundrum is a fully ripened Boqvist versus the "T&K window" - can they overlap?

Would rushing him to Rockford next season be counterproductive or does he really NEED another year in Juniors? Is there someone in Rockford that can provide the teaching/coaching that Boqvist needs?

Probably the best case scenario is Boqvist play in Rockford next season and be ready to step into Gustafsson's role in 2020/21.
- EbonyRaptor

I'm concerned the T&K window may encourage Hawk management to take short cuts like not allowing their prospects to develop fully. I really can't see any situation where Kane and Toews will be part of another contending team in Chicago. For that reason, and as difficult as it would be to see, I would like to see both of them moved.

As for where Boqvist should play next I think Bowman has to figure out where his game is, does he need to learn skills or does he have those skills and needs to apply them and play against men? From What I have seen Boqvist's defensive skills still need work. Also London has supplied the the NHL with more finished talent than most junior franchises in hockey. Bowman has to decide where the best teaching will take place. And hopefully Boqvist's development is considered more important than the T&K window.

I'm concerned the T&K window may encourage Hawk management to take short cuts like not allowing their prospects to develop fully. I really can't see any situation where Kane and Toews will be part of another contending team in Chicago. For that reason, and as difficult as it would be to see, I would like to see both of them moved.

As for where Boqvist should play next I think Bowman has to figure out where his game is, does he need to learn skills or does he have those skills and needs to apply them and play against men? From What I have seen Boqvist's defensive skills still need work. Also London has supplied the the NHL with more finished talent than most junior franchises in hockey. Bowman has to decide where the best teaching will take place. And hopefully Boqvist's development is considered more important than the T&K window.
- paulr

Here's the deal, Pallie. No, really... If I were Stan - and thank God I'm not, or the Hawks would be as screwed as some here believe - the kid stays in London next year IF his defensive progression is proceeding at a good pace AND he'll continue to be challenged there.

Hey Beav, how are you doing?
- paulr

Living the dream here. Starting to see flocks of geese which in years past meant playoff hockey is just around the corner....

He's put on 20 pounds of lean muscle. Got a few pimples on his back as a side effect, but he's ready to play with men.
- mohel

For some reason my hats no longer fit.

For some reason my hats no longer fit.
- Beaver-Warrior

Well played.

I'm concerned the T&K window may encourage Hawk management to take short cuts like not allowing their prospects to develop fully. I really can't see any situation where Kane and Toews will be part of another contending team in Chicago. For that reason, and as difficult as it would be to see, I would like to see both of them moved.

As for where Boqvist should play next I think Bowman has to figure out where his game is, does he need to learn skills or does he have those skills and needs to apply them and play against men? From What I have seen Boqvist's defensive skills still need work. Also London has supplied the the NHL with more finished talent than most junior franchises in hockey. Bowman has to decide where the best teaching will take place. And hopefully Boqvist's development is considered more important than the T&K window.
- paulr

For as heretical as that seems, there is a hard truth to it that deserves serious consideration. It's all a bit of a guessing game trying to assess when Boqvist and other prospects will be ready to be key pieces on a contending team or to be more specific whether they will be ready within the T&K window. I'm not knowledgeable enough nor close enough to make that assessment, but hopefully the Hawks brain trust have a good handle on it.

What complicates the decision process is the nostalgic pull of going for it one more time with T&K. There's a siren's song element to it that is hard to ignore. All this thinking about it is not what I find enjoyable but I've never been good at being able to not worry about the things I can't control ... so I worry.

Honest appraisal time.

The Hawks have seven legit NHL forwards - Kane. Toews, ADB, Strome, Saad, Caggiula and Kahun. Everyone else is over the hill, an AHL career guy, or way to soon to see what they have - as in at least another year or two. Most are in the first two categories. Of the seven, only one guy has any physical dimension to his play, which is Caggiula.

Ideally, they find a banger to add to each of the 19/88 and 12/17 lines, and another scorer for Saad and Caggiula on the third line. Then maybe they pair a healthy Kampf and Kahun with a veteran 4C to make a nice fourth line.

So that means they need to add FOUR new forwards. Forwards who can play NHL hockey. The best of what was in Rockford has already come and gone, which means there is nothing better there than what has been here already this year.

As for defense...

Keith is still their best guy, and if he has hope, he will play well. Seabrook is a conundrum because his lack of mobility is exposed to its greatest degree when playing man to man. Maybe if they go back to a traditional floating box zone he has more tread on his tires. Either way - that's $12.5MM of cap that will be here for the duration of their contracts.

As for Murphy...maybe still some upside, but maybe more so in a zone? Jury still out.

The rest of the D group is pretty one dimensional - all non-physical puck moving guys with holes in their games - namely they are offense first and contact averse. No Hedman, Stralman, Doughty, Keith types in the bunch, and of the prospects, we are at least two years away to see if even a guy like Boqvist is the second coming of Erik Karlsson, or Gus 2.0.

With the need to re-sign ADB and Strome likely costing between $12-15MM, and an anemic cap growth of like 3% per year, it is not in the budget for the Hawks to sign a single free agent above $4MM for the next two years unless they can lose AA, or Seabrook, or both.

Net...

Healthy CC buys the Hawks one year at best. Unhealthy CC = LTIR and an after season starts one year cap bump of $6MM. He has no market value, and once he is gone they need an equivalent talent to replace him, so that is at least a wash. Unless you think half a season of Delia has shown you enough for him to be the new #1....

No cap and no NHL ready prospects means a glacial pace of change. Rush the prospects and you risk a lot. Wait too long and its another three years of Kunitz's and Kruger's at league minimum being placeholders.

When 64% of a team's cap is tied up in seven players (at least four of which are on or in decline) and you have to roster 23 guys, at some point the rose colored glasses need to be packed away. How do they add four quality forwards and three to four quality defenseman over the next three years with $4MM?

For as heretical as that seems, there is a hard truth to it that deserves serious consideration. It's all a bit of a guessing game trying to assess when Boqvist and other prospects will be ready to be key pieces on a contending team or to be more specific whether they will be ready within the T&K window. I'm not knowledgeable enough nor close enough to make that assessment, but hopefully the Hawks brain trust have a good handle on it.

What complicates the decision process is the nostalgic pull of going for it one more time with T&K. There's a siren's song element to it that is hard to ignore. All this thinking about it is not what I find enjoyable but I've never been good at being able to not worry about the things I can't control ... so I worry.
- EbonyRaptor

Good post, ER. I'll riff off it, if I may. For me the question is whether it is championship or bust the next several years. Do I want to trade the Twins to try to win ASAP; or do I want them to play their whole career here, and hope for a less likely one more Cup? Do I want to watch them here, even if they might only be a middle of the road playoff team? Do I want to watch them deteriorate here, and get the Seabs treatment on this board?

Tough call, and an individual choice - no right or wrong. Personally, I'm glad Stosh got to play his whole career here, and I think I'd like to see Keith, Kane and Toews do the same.

Where are in Canada you working? I'm in Southern Ontario, it's far colder than it has been in years. I don't really mind the cold although I have had enough of it this year. Go buy a Timmys and a touque EH!
- paulr

Hamilton, Etobicoke, Vaughn

Hamilton, Etobicoke, Vaughn
- vabeachbear

So you are concerned about cold around here?. Better not travel to Sudbury or Timmins or Ottawa or Montreal or Winnipeg or Edmonton.

When winter was really winter, the great players played for hours after school and on weekends on the frozen lakes and ponds. As a young kid, Bobby Orr played with his buddies (and girls) on a frozen lake in Parry Sound 4 or 5 hours a day. Now everybody needs to be indoors playing organized hockey because mommy and daddy think Junior is going to the NHL that way. Kills the love for playing the game at an early age.

Honest appraisal time.

The Hawks have seven legit NHL forwards - Kane. Toews, ADB, Strome, Saad, Caggiula and Kahun. Everyone else is over the hill, an AHL career guy, or way to soon to see what they have - as in at least another year or two. Most are in the first two categories. Of the seven, only one guy has any physical dimension to his play, which is Caggiula.

Ideally, they find a banger to add to each of the 19/88 and 12/17 lines, and another scorer for Saad and Caggiula on the third line. Then maybe they pair a healthy Kampf and Kahun with a veteran 4C to make a nice fourth line.

So that means they need to add FOUR new forwards. Forwards who can play NHL hockey. The best of what was in Rockford has already come and gone, which means there is nothing better there than what has been here already this year.

As for defense...

Keith is still their best guy, and if he has hope, he will play well. Seabrook is a conundrum because his lack of mobility is exposed to its greatest degree when playing man to man. Maybe if they go back to a traditional floating box zone he has more tread on his tires. Either way - that's $12.5MM of cap that will be here for the duration of their contracts.

As for Murphy...maybe still some upside, but maybe more so in a zone? Jury still out.

The rest of the D group is pretty one dimensional - all non-physical puck moving guys with holes in their games - namely they are offense first and contact averse. No Hedman, Stralman, Doughty, Keith types in the bunch, and of the prospects, we are at least two years away to see if even a guy like Boqvist is the second coming of Erik Karlsson, or Gus 2.0.

With the need to re-sign ADB and Strome likely costing between $12-15MM, and an anemic cap growth of like 3% per year, it is not in the budget for the Hawks to sign a single free agent above $4MM for the next two years unless they can lose AA, or Seabrook, or both.

Net...

Healthy CC buys the Hawks one year at best. Unhealthy CC = LTIR and an after season starts one year cap bump of $6MM. He has no market value, and once he is gone they need an equivalent talent to replace him, so that is at least a wash. Unless you think half a season of Delia has shown you enough for him to be the new #1....

No cap and no NHL ready prospects means a glacial pace of change. Rush the prospects and you risk a lot. Wait too long and its another three years of Kunitz's and Kruger's at league minimum being placeholders.

When 64% of a team's cap is tied up in seven players (at least four of which are on or in decline) and you have to roster 23 guys, at some point the rose colored glasses need to be packed away. How do they add four quality forwards and three to four quality defenseman over the next three years with $4MM?
- Return of the Roar

Spot on

There is no reason to push Boqvist into the NHL next year. And the same should have been done with Joki this year. You are wasting ELC years while they are still developing into men's bodies.
Also we need those extra years so that Keith and Seabrook are not there when these guys need to get paid.
- 67hawks

Exactly, and it seems like they have a plan in place, a couple quotes from The Athletic article:

Offensively, he’s NHL ready,” said former NHL defenseman Brian Campbell, who has been traveling to London and working with Boqvist this season as part of his new role with the Blackhawks.

Dave Bolland, another former Blackhawk, has also worked with Boqvist this season. Bolland came through the Knights as a player before going onto the NHL and has continued to have a relationship with the coaches and organization. He has joined the Knights on the ice as a voluntary coach at times this season.

The bottom line is they have him where they want him and are using a hands on approach to his development. I find this very encouraging!

So you are concerned about cold around here?. Better not travel to Sudbury or Timmins or Ottawa or Montreal or Winnipeg or Edmonton.

When winter was really winter, the great players played for hours after school and on weekends on the frozen lakes and ponds. As a young kid, Bobby Orr played with his buddies (and girls) on a frozen lake in Parry Sound 4 or 5 hours a day. Now everybody needs to be indoors playing organized hockey because mommy and daddy think Junior is going to the NHL that way. Kills the love for playing the game at an early age.
- RickJ

So you are concerned about cold around here?. Better not travel to Sudbury or Timmins or Ottawa or Montreal or Winnipeg or Edmonton.

When winter was really winter, the great players played for hours after school and on weekends on the frozen lakes and ponds. As a young kid, Bobby Orr played with his buddies (and girls) on a frozen lake in Parry Sound 4 or 5 hours a day. Now everybody needs to be indoors playing organized hockey because mommy and daddy think Junior is going to the NHL that way. Kills the love for playing the game at an early age.
- RickJ

Also when I was a kid in Rexdale the creek behind us froze over and we played on the ice all winter. Now most winters it isn't cold enough to freeze the rivers creeks and ponds.

https://theathletic.com/850275/2019/03/05/why-adam-boqvist-likely-wont-be-ready-for-the-blackhawks-next-season/

Why Boqvist Likely Won't be Ready for NHL

What you hear is a big ol' whoosh of air going out of the McD, StanBo PR balloon. . .
- pdx2ord

Pretty sure they knew he was 2-3 years away and even said it at the time.