RD Adam Boqvist - Brynas J20, Superelit (2018, 8th, CHI)
- Thread starter VictorLustig
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BK
"Goalie Apologist"
Had a really good game today. 1g 1 a and was really solid on D. Starting to really turn it on.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
This guy has been great in the WJC. After Brannstrom, I think he’s been the next best defenseman at the tournament.
I don’t like to say it because I’m American, but there was a lot of discussion at the draft about Hughes vs. Boqvist, and we saw in that game why Boqvist is a better defenseman. There’s this idea out there that Boqvist is this wild maniac who plays no defense and makes a lot of bad decisions with the puck. That’s exactly what Hughes did. It’s the opposite of what Boqvist has done all tournament. He’s been quietly excellent.
Right before Boqvist’s game winning goal, he made a very good play on a 2-1 for the USA.
I don’t like to say it because I’m American, but there was a lot of discussion at the draft about Hughes vs. Boqvist, and we saw in that game why Boqvist is a better defenseman. There’s this idea out there that Boqvist is this wild maniac who plays no defense and makes a lot of bad decisions with the puck. That’s exactly what Hughes did. It’s the opposite of what Boqvist has done all tournament. He’s been quietly excellent.
Right before Boqvist’s game winning goal, he made a very good play on a 2-1 for the USA.
JAS 39 Gripen
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While I do think that people tend to underrate Boqvists, you cant base it on one game alone, like your quote: "and we saw in that game why Boqvist is a better defenseman.". Boqvists have looked uninterested and sloppy in a few games as well, but hes a project, just like Hughes.
The S5
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- Jul 27, 2017
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I think Hughes is pressing to push offense. His D partners haven't been very good at the WJ.
One thing I notice about Quinn and Jack Hughes is they may be difficult to play with. They are both dynamic skaters and their line mates/partners can get caught in between, if you know what I mean.
In Quinn's case, when he is playing at the highest level, he will have to learn to distribute the puck and not make dangerous plays trying to do more than he should.
With that said, he is far and away the most skilled D in this WJ tourney.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
I am talking about their approach, which we saw in this game. They play the same way almost all games I've watched them play.
Hughes plays every game as if its an all-star game. He's going to be good in the NHL because he creates a lot of scoring chances and he's a great skater, but his style of game is going to become less and less effective as he moves up the competition ladder. He's going to give up nearly as much as he creates. NHL players skate better, hit better, defend better, think the game better and finish chances better. They'll punish mistakes that aren't punished in junior hockey.
Meanwhile, Boqvist plays a very offensive style, but he does exhibit the ability to make the boring play, if he should. He doesn't need to be the protagonist every shift.
Kaners Bald Spot
Registered User
Believed this at the time of the 2018 draft, and believe it now.
Boqvist is the 2nd best defenseman from that draft class, and it isn't close. I was beyond shocked that he made it out of the top 5 and even more shocked that Q. Hughes was taken ahead of him.
My thoughts:
2018:
Dahlin
Boqvist
Hughes
Bouchard
Dobson
Bouchard and Dobson are close. It depends on whether you like offense(Bouchard) or defense(Dobson)
What separates Boqvist and Hughes, IMO is that Boqvist is a much better defender, and the difference between Hughes and Boqvist's skating isn't much. Boqvist's hockey IQ is off the charts for an 18 year old as well.
Boqvist is the 2nd best defenseman from that draft class, and it isn't close. I was beyond shocked that he made it out of the top 5 and even more shocked that Q. Hughes was taken ahead of him.
My thoughts:
2018:
Dahlin
Boqvist
Hughes
Bouchard
Dobson
Bouchard and Dobson are close. It depends on whether you like offense(Bouchard) or defense(Dobson)
What separates Boqvist and Hughes, IMO is that Boqvist is a much better defender, and the difference between Hughes and Boqvist's skating isn't much. Boqvist's hockey IQ is off the charts for an 18 year old as well.
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theslatcher
Registered User
Toews and Kane seem like good guys to the Hawks prospects(or just to Boqvist lol), Toews FaceTime'd Adam when he got drafted to welcome him & such, and Kane contacts Adam often it seems.
ColbyChaos
Marty Snoozeman's Father
The real player that is really good to the young guys is Seabrook despite all the memes about his contract he is good at being a mentor to the young guys. Boqvist was staying with him in training camp and apparently per other players he is the guy who reaches out to new players giving them advice on where to live where the good schools are etc.
TLEH
Pronounced T-Lay
BK
"Goalie Apologist"
Captain Clutch
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- May 2, 2012
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Boqvist is really an exciting talent, it will be really exciting to watch him develop alongside Quinn Hughes and see who turns out to be the more impactful player. They will both have an early opportunity to get large roles on their respective teams over the next few years and while I still think Hughes will be the better player and am also quick to admit that I could be wrong about that prediction. Hawks fans have a lot to be excited about in Boqvist, he reminds me of Morgan Reilly with better hockey sense.
Kaners Bald Spot
Registered User
What I really like about what the Hawks are doing scouting wise is they're targeting young players in the draft and via trade that think the game at a high to insane level. Dylan Strome and Boqvist probably are 70-75 Hockey sense players on the 20-80 scouting scale. It doesn't really get better than that. Thinking the game at that level can overcome a lot of other deficiencies.
JAS 39 Gripen
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Kaners Bald Spot
Registered User
They targeted him in a trade and his hockey sense is insane. He's been producing at a 65 point pace since getting traded to the Hawks and is 21. Both Boqvist and he are special when it comes to thinking the game. I was bringing it up because it is a common theme in Hawks scouting these days.
Castle8130
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- May 9, 2017
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I agree, the hawks are taking smaller risks by drafting hockey iq + production. Look at Debrincat, kurashev, wise, and nordgren. The Hawks aren't afraid to take players that have minor skating deficiencies and are sure as hell not concerned with their size. They go by hockey iq first, skating, playmaking ability, shooting, and then size last.
I think it is the best way to go and they are showing it so far.
He was rankedtop 5 by most scouts for a while before the draft and probably fell in rankings due to injury. I wanted the Canucks to take Hughes because I thought he'd play right away. But since he didn't, and Canucks need a RD and if I knew Boqvist would make a smooth transition to NA ice by putting up impressive OHL numbers while staying healthy. I would definitely take Boqvist over Hughes.
BK
"Goalie Apologist"
I was a big Boqvist fan but I was fine with the Hawks taking either Hughes or Boqvist. I was/am still super pumped that we got Boqvist.
Kaners Bald Spot
Registered User
Good for Mr. Boqvist but the big knock on him before the draft was he shrinks when the games get bigger and more important so we will see how he does in the playoffs.
No one has ever said he doesn't have speed so this is an unintentional strawman.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
BK
"Goalie Apologist"
Either have I. The Blackhawks draft video actually has a scout saying basically the opposite.
JAS 39 Gripen
Registered User
? Scoring Swedens two goals in a semi-final 2-3 loss to Canada is "shrinking when the games get bigger" to you? Do you have any examples of this behaviour from Boqvist?
I heard Craig Button say it on the radio before the draft. He really ripped into Boqvist's character in that interview. I'll try to find it for you but the TSN radio archives are difficult to navigate.
edit:
https://www.tsn.ca/radio/vancouver-1040/button-boqvist-compete-level-a-question-mark-1.1118529
https://www.tsn.ca/radio/vancouver-...ame-class-as-hughes-dobson-bouchard-1.1073407
My memory was a bit off, Button's exact criticism of Boqvist was "shrinks when challenged" and has a low compete level.
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