It happens with every team, but some players are going to move on and have a good career for themself when they didn’t necessarily get the opportunity or live up to their potential on their former team.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been a noticeable presence in this aspect of the game over the past number of years. While not giving up on former eighth overall pick Adam Boqvist, the Blackhawks did use him as part of a deal to acquire Seth Jones. Looking at it now, it was worth adding him in.
It appeared as though Boqvist was heading for good things in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets after the trade, but then some opportunity passed him by and that defense got crowded. The Blue Jackets just recently moved on from him this past off-season and the 24-year-old found himself on the Florida Panthers.
The Stanley Cup champions had to revamp their defense and have been known for taking in players a lot of other teams may not be willing to take a chance on. This has resulted in success, breakouts, and bounce-back seasons for players like Gustav Forsling, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and others in recent years. Boqvist was placed in a great spot to finally break out with an organization that could help him achieve that.
Boqvist is known as more of an offensive talent than a defensive one, so he has been given power-play time throughout his career. Once getting to Florida and making the team, this amazing opportunity presented itself. Brandon Montour and Ekman-Larsson had both signed elsewhere and Boqvist slid in on the top unit.
After next to no offense was produced on a power play with elite players, he has not only been taken off, he was taken right out of the lineup and hasn’t played since Oct. 26.
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Boqvist has played just nine of the 13 games the Panthers have played this season. He has two assists and is also averaging just 11:34 of ice time with 10 shots, five blocks, and two hits. The most games the young defenseman has ever played in a season is 52 and he has never averaged over 19 minutes per game in a season.
The Panthers seem to be doing just fine with him out of the lineup, so possibly the best final opportunity he was going to see in the NHL has passed him by.
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