IMO it is way too early to give up on Boqvist. He had a good season for London and it seems the Hawks have a lot of confidence in him. The Hawks have some young Dmen, but the best approach is to keep the irons in the fire until they get closer to the NHL and if you have too many NHL ready dmen, you trade them then when their value is that much higher. An NHL ready Boqvist will bring a lot more to the Hawks than 2018 draftee prospect that may still be 1 or 2 years away. Hawks are going to need to keep infusing more young/cheap dmen over the course the next few years and some of them may still need 1,2,3+ years to develop.

Since there isn’t a whole lot to talk about substance-wise, I guess we can talk about rumors.

Barstool Chief (from barstool sports) apparently has a source with the Hawks hockey ops that said that if the draft was today, the team would be taking Byram.

Take it for what you will (a rumor). Not saying he’s a very credible source, but it’s still a fun convo starter.
- TommyHawk

Hawks 2022/23 defensive lineup:

Byram-Boqvist
Beaudin-Jokiharju
Keith-Mitchell

Hawks 2022/23 defensive lineup:

Byram-Boqvist
Beaudin-Jokiharju
Keith-Mitchell



- EbonyRaptor

That would be an absolute dream.


And now I have to change my pants.

Barstool Chief (from barstool sports) apparently has a source with the Hawks hockey ops that said that if the draft was today, the team would be taking Byram.
- TommyHawk

His Hockey ops friend would have gotten himself fired, if he existed.

and why tell me why would anybody loyal to their organization makes a foregone conclusion type statement NOW, when it's value publicity-wise is so much more ramped up at the draft.

This smells of tarvern stick from Barstool Chief, imo.

We are not talking about the era when I at 19 years old, is let in Don Murphy's office with the press to listen to the conference call of the entire draft, an enitrely different era from one when teams spend more on scouting than they did. on payroll back then

His Hockey ops would have gotten himslef fired, if he existed.

and why tell me why would anybody loyal to their organization make a foregone conclusion type statement NOW,when it's value publicity wise is os much more ramped up at the draft.

This smells of tarvern stick from Barstool Chief, imo.
- wiz1901

Could be a smokescreen for teams that want the clear-cut best d-man in the draft to trade up to get him. After all, theres plenty of forwards to choose from in the top-10, so if the Hawks prefer going that route, why not drum up interest from a team looking to trade up by “leaking” info that is who they want.

IMO it is way too early to give up on Boqvist. He had a good season for London and it seems the Hawks have a lot of confidence in him. The Hawks have some young Dmen, but the best approach is to keep the irons in the fire until they get closer to the NHL and if you have too many NHL ready dmen, you trade them then when their value is that much higher. An NHL ready Boqvist will bring a lot more to the Hawks than 2018 draftee prospect that may still be 1 or 2 years away. Hawks are going to need to keep infusing more young/cheap dmen over the course the next few years and some of them may still need 1,2,3+ years to develop.
- breadbag

I wasn't giving up on Boqvist by any means - I was very pleased with his first season in N.A. - really couldn't have asked for anything more. But, I think Byram will be a better player than Boqvist - pretty equal on offense and Byram gets the edge on defense - so if I had to pick between them I would pick Byram. Therefore - why not parlay our abundance in high-end d-prospects and get a high-end center prospect.

In other words I would rather have Byram and Dach than Boqvist and Turcotte - mainly because I think Byram has a chance to be a legit #1 d-man where Boqvist really doesn't.

IMO it is way too early to give up on Boqvist. He had a good season for London and it seems the Hawks have a lot of confidence in him. The Hawks have some young Dmen, but the best approach is to keep the irons in the fire until they get closer to the NHL and if you have too many NHL ready dmen, you trade them then when their value is that much higher. An NHL ready Boqvist will bring a lot more to the Hawks than 2018 draftee prospect that may still be 1 or 2 years away. Hawks are going to need to keep infusing more young/cheap dmen over the course the next few years and some of them may still need 1,2,3+ years to develop.
- breadbag

Get what you're saying and I'm one to not want to give up on our D prospects before they have had a chance to prove themselves. Although I would consider any of them in a trade, it would have to be a really good swap. Glad I don't have to manage the roster even though I love to play armchair GM.

Could be a smokescreen for teams that want the clear-cut best d-man in the draft to trade up to get him. After all, theres plenty of forwards to choose from in the top-10, so if the Hawks prefer going that route, why not drum up interest from a team looking to trade up?
- TommyHawk

So the hawks have the chance to take BPA @ #3 but try and ferret out a below them because they would be EQUALLY as happy with this other guy who is a forward.

when you trade a puck you don't get right to tell the new pick owner who to pick which position to pick...
If I call Stan, (worried he is taking a defenseman I want), I tell him I want pick (so I am NOT the team right below his pick) and when he says I am not trading, unless it is over the moon, I meet the demand?
Basically, If I want Bryam I TELL him I want the Byram and he can say yes or no?

and anyway there are clearly more trhan one guy in this class on dee that will p,ay and there are a large number of big guy defenders...so if stan says the moon I look to trade to around #11 and contol the board from there...

Get what you're saying and I'm one to not want to give up on our D prospects before they have had a chance to prove themselves. Although I would consider any of them in a trade, it would have to be a really good swap. Glad I don't have to manage the roster even though I love to play armchair GM.
- AEL_Fox

Hawks marketing also spent time covering how Campbell has been tutoring Boquist. MacD aint going to like trading him!

I mean this doesn't suck......


I’m just imagining and salivating on the thought of Adam Boqvist and Bowen Byram as the 1-2 punch on the #Blackhawks...if we go the Byram route! 😍😍😍

I wasn't giving up on Boqvist by any means - I was very pleased with his first season in N.A. - really couldn't have asked for anything more. But, I think Byram will be a better player than Boqvist - pretty equal on offense and Byram gets the edge on defense - so if I had to pick between them I would pick Byram. Therefore - why not parlay our abundance in high-end d-prospects and get a high-end center prospect.

In other words I would rather have Byram and Dach than Boqvist and Turcotte - mainly because I think Byram has a chance to be a legit #1 d-man where Boqvist really doesn't.
- EbonyRaptor

I just don't see how Boqvist lost the chance to be a legit top guy at the NHL level. I'm not saying he will be a Norris finalist year after year, but he still has the makings of a top pair dman. Maybe Byram will be better and maybe not. Really too early to know where both these guys will be 3-4 years down the road when legit #1 dman is feasible. I just don't see the point in developing a guy for a year and then trading him for a pretty much similar pick 8th for 6th, when he has had a great junior season. I think the Hawks have more confidence in their scouting and development then to move on from him right now.

Get what you're saying and I'm one to not want to give up on our D prospects before they have had a chance to prove themselves. Although I would consider any of them in a trade, it would have to be a really good swap. Glad I don't have to manage the roster even though I love to play armchair GM.
- AEL_Fox

I would consider them in a trade too, but not when it is just another similarly slotted draft pick. They just took him at #8 last year he has that year of experience. The are more certain of what they have in him than taking another pick at a similar spot this year, because they've had Boqvist in camp and in the organization (Signed) already.

Hawks 2022/23 defensive lineup:

Byram-Boqvist
Beaudin-Jokiharju
Keith-Mitchell



- EbonyRaptor

Hey, what happened to Seabrook? Not to mention, you know that Boqvist will be moved to forward...

I just don't see how Boqvist lost the chance to be a legit top guy at the NHL level.
- breadbag

You know what I don't know how ANY Kid Byram even Makar can be touted as a legit top pair defender, until they are given the time, tick and tutoring to play in the nHL.

Granted the kid in Dallas and the start for Makar have been very positive experiences...but I have seem Heiskanen turned inside out on more than one occasion, and the same goes for Boston's Charlie and I will give Makar his props...never playing in MAJOR junior, learning at the college level and always being able to adjust...the tell was the minutes he played for Colorado, but he didn't NOT get dominated at times...so I am with your thought-
the final product Adam Boqvist is not the one learning to stay on the right side of attackers.

...and could it be that the position may have morphed further to the O side from when little Duncan Keith was criticized because he couldn't handle bigger forwards, and How could we put up with his clear "deficiencies on defense?

Hey, what happened to Seabrook? Not to mention, you know that Boqvist will be moved to forward...
- Chunk

honestly might could happen since he was one...

I would strongly consider the first proposal of Boqvist for Detroit's 6th overall pick. Like you said, draft Byram at #3 then one of the forwards at #6 given how bunched those prospects are after Hughes and Kakko.

Is that trade realistic in Detroit saying yes? Not sure but I would definitely pull the trigger if they are willing to as well.
- AEL_Fox

I think you're selling Boqvist short here, my opinion only. But he has done some special things offensively for a dman that no one has seen in a long while. I could argue he is more of a sure thing than anyone who will be picked at number 6.

I wasn't giving up on Boqvist by any means - I was very pleased with his first season in N.A. - really couldn't have asked for anything more. But, I think Byram will be a better player than Boqvist - pretty equal on offense and Byram gets the edge on defense - so if I had to pick between them I would pick Byram. Therefore - why not parlay our abundance in high-end d-prospects and get a high-end center prospect.

In other words I would rather have Byram and Dach than Boqvist and Turcotte - mainly because I think Byram has a chance to be a legit #1 d-man where Boqvist really doesn't.
- EbonyRaptor

So IF Boqvist becomes the second coming of E. Karlsson, you wouldn't consider him a #1 d-man?

Hey, what happened to Seabrook? Not to mention, you know that Boqvist will be moved to forward...
- Chunk

Cat-Strome-Boqvist

Cat-Strome-Boqvist
- EbonyRaptor

Gustafsson - Caufield - Boqvist

Clearly I need to try harder.
- DarthKane

I'll say! Shoot for 300!

So IF Boqvist becomes the second coming of E. Karlsson, you wouldn't consider him a #1 d-man?
- LAHawk

Probably getting into a case of semantics - but I don't consider Karlsson a #1 d-man. Is he a top-pairing d-man? Sure, but to me a #1 d-man has to be better than barely adequate on the defensive side of the puck and that's where I put Karlsson - and probably Boqvist in a couple years. He could still win a Norris because the Norris is all about offensive numbers but he's really not defensively and Boqvist may not get much better than Karlsson - we'll see.

For me - Doughty is a prototypical #1 d-man - very good defensively and offensively.

Gustafsson - Caufield - Boqvist
- DarthKane

B-O-I-N-G ! ! ! !

The good news is that no matter what, the Hawks are going to either get a really good Center or Dman with the #3 pick!

Probably getting into a case of semantics - but I don't consider Karlsson a #1 d-man. Is he a top-pairing d-man? Sure, but to me a #1 d-man has to be better than barely adequate on the defensive side of the puck and that's where I put Karlsson - and probably Boqvist in a couple years. He could still win a Norris because the Norris is all about offensive numbers but he's really not defensively and Boqvist may not get much better than Karlsson - we'll see.

For me - Doughty is a prototypical #1 d-man - very good defensively and offensively.
- EbonyRaptor

I think you are right about semantics. It is hard to say where one draws the line for #1d. I feel like us fans have a tendency to only consider the very best players as "true #1" but in reality I think the bar is actually not as high. Some teams might have 2 guys who would be a #1 on most teams while others don't have anyone who should be a #1. Karlsson might not be the best defensively, but no question he would be a top 30 overall in the league during his prime. I think that would pretty much mean he is likely a #1D overall, even if his game isn't as complete as some of the other guys who are few and far between.

Here's another question. compare Quinn Hughes (10 months older, similar size) to Boqvist? Vancouver couldn't wait to sign him after his freshman year.