On July 12th, the Boston Bruins inked a one-year, $775,000 deal with center Jesper Boqvist.
Drawing inspiration from last year's playbook, GM Don Sweeney eyes untapped potential, reminiscent of Pavel Zacha's breakout after joining from New Jersey.
Boqvist, a Swedish center, entered the NHL with the Devils in 2019-20, juggling AHL and NHL stints before a solid 2022-23 run with 21 points in 70 games. At 24, he'll step into the fourth-line center role post Tomas Nosek's departure.
Boqvist boasts finesse and puck skills across zones, excelling at distribution. Although undersized, his agility shines; boards are secondary to space play.
While limited in special teams with the Devils, Boqvist's role expands in Boston, particularly on the penalty kill. Faceoffs present a challenge, a weak 33.2% last season, a hurdle he must surmount to bolster his value in the lineup.
