The 19-year-old Swedish blueliner will become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2021-2022 season.
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Adam Boqvist played in his 10th NHL game on Sunday night vs. Minnesota, triggering the first year of his entry-level contract. If Boqvist played in nine games or fewer this season, his contract wouldn’t have kicked in until next year, and he would have another season with an $894,167 cap hit.
The Blackhawks also recently announced that Boqvist will not be loaned to Team Sweden for the 2020 World Juniors. That decision was likely made because of the Blackhawks current situation on defense, as Duncan Keith and Calvin de Haan both remain out with injuries. With the possibility of de Haan missing significant time after reinjuring his right shoulder, Boqvist could remain with the Blackhawks for the long haul.
Earlier this season, 2019 No. 3 overall pick Kirby Dach also burned the first year of his entry-level contract when the Blackhawks announced he’d stay with the team for the remainder of the season. With Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane’s $10.5 million and Brent Seabrook’s $6.88 million still on the books at that point, it’s interesting that the Hawks decided to have Dach and Boqvist become restricted free agents in the same offseason.
“Maybe that was a discussion very early on but as far as coach perspective, we like him,” coach Jeremy Colliton said about possible discussions with GM Stan Bowman on whether or not to burn Boqvist’s first year. “I think he’s played well and it’s an opportunity with some injuries to give him some ice time. He’s handled it well so far.”
Now the number to focus on with Boqvist and Dach is 40. If either player plays in 40 or more games this year, then it will count as a full season and bring him one year closer to becoming an unrestricted free agent. If a player has played seven full seasons or is at least 27 years old by the free agency period, he officially registers as an unrestricted free agent.
It’s an interesting decision to have Dach and Boqvist’s entry-level contracts expire at the same time, but it certainly will be fun to watch both players going forward for the Blackhawks.
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