The Chicago Blackhawks have made a big roster decision on Wednesday, sending 2018 first round pick Adam Boqvist back to his junior hockey team.
Boqvist, whom the Blackhawks took with the eighth overall pick in June’s NHL Draft, was thought to have an outside shot at making the roster, but he will instead head back to the London Knights of the OHL for more seasoning before getting his NHL shot.
With that move, the Blackhawks will likely keep 2017 first round pick Henri Jokiharju on their active roster for the start of the season. Jokiharju scored 12 goals and dished out 59 assists with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks last season, and with injuries to Connor Murphy and Gustav Forsling, the door opened up for him to make the roster for the start of the season.
The Blackhawks now have 14 forwards, nine defensemen, and four goaltenders on their roster, and are expected to cut one more forward and one more goaltender before the start of the regular season.
