Jesper Boqvist

Jesper Boqvist
Boqvist with the New Jersey Devils in 2022
Born (1998-10-30) 30 October 1998 (age 26)
Falun, Sweden
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Florida Panthers
Brynäs IF
New Jersey Devils
Boston Bruins
NHL draft 36th overall, 2017
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2016–present

Jesper Boqvist (born 30 October 1998) is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Boqvist was selected 36th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2017 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Brynäs IF

Boqvist made his Swedish Hockey League debut playing with Brynäs IF during the 2015–16 SHL season. On 16 May 2017, Boqvist agreed to extend his contract with Brynäs IF for a further two seasons through to 2019.[1] Boqvist was drafted 36th overall, in the second round of the 2017 NHL entry draft, by the New Jersey Devils.

New Jersey Devils

On 10 June 2019, Boqvist signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils.[2] Boqvist scored his first NHL career goal in a 3–2 loss against the Minnesota Wild on 26 November.[3] Boqvist's goal, which tied the game 1–1 in the first period, caused controversy by the play of Wayne Simmonds. The Wild used its coach's challenge for the play, but the goal was allowed to stand. The NHL then issued a statement during the third period that the goal should not have been allowed.[3][4]

On 22 July 2022, Boqvist agreed to his qualifying offer with the Devils, re-signing to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2022–23 season.[5] He made a career high 70 appearances for the Devils and matched his previous season tally of 10 goals while adding 21 points to help the Devils return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Boston Bruins

In the following off-season, Boqvist was not tendered a qualifying offer to remain with the Devils, releasing him as a free agent. On 12 July 2023, Boqvist agreed to a one-year, one-way $775,000 contract with the Boston Bruins for the 2023–24 season.[6]

Boqvist did not make the NHL Bruins out of the pre-season, instead being placed on waivers with the intent of being assigned to the Bruins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Providence Bruins.[7] He cleared waivers and started the season on Providence.[8] Boqvist was recalled to the NHL team on 26 October.[9] He would play one game before being sent back to Providence. This occurred again on 12 December, where Boqvist was recalled, played one game, and then sent back down.[10][11] He would be recalled a third time on 6 January 2024.[12] This time, however, he would stick with the big club, finding a comfortable role on Boston's fourth line with his speed.[13] Boqvist scored his first as a Bruin on 9 January, against the Arizona Coyotes. Boqvist scored his first NHL playoff point in game 1 of the first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, an assist on a goal by John Beecher.

Florida Panthers

After one year with Boston, Boqvist was not given a qualifying offer, making him a unrestricted free agent on 1 July 2024.[14] On that day, Boqvist signed a one-year, $775,000 deal with reigning champions, the Florida Panthers.[15]

Personal life

Boqvist's younger brother Adam Boqvist is a defenceman for the Florida Panthers.[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Brynäs IF J20 7 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Brynäs IF J20 38 23 35 58 8 3 0 1 1 0
2015–16 Brynäs IF SHL 8 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Brynäs IF J20 15 10 5 20 6 — — — — —
2016–17 Brynäs IF SHL 16 0 6 6 2 10 1 0 1 0
2016–17 Timrå IK Allsv 19 3 9 12 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Brynäs IF J20 4 0 5 5 2 — — — — —
2017–18 Brynäs IF SHL 23 3 10 13 2 8 0 1 1 4
2018–19 Brynäs IF SHL 51 13 22 35 14 — — — — —
2019–20 New Jersey Devils NHL 35 4 0 4 8 — — — — —
2019–20 Binghamton Devils AHL 19 8 3 11 12 — — — — —
2020–21 Timrå IK Allsv 13 3 7 10 0 — — — — —
2020–21 New Jersey Devils NHL 28 4 3 7 2 — — — — —
2020–21 Binghamton Devils AHL 8 2 5 7 0 — — — — —
2021–22 Utica Comets AHL 7 2 6 8 2 — — — — —
2021–22 New Jersey Devils NHL 56 10 13 23 10 — — — — —
2022–23 New Jersey Devils NHL 70 10 11 21 2 6 0 0 0 0
2023–24 Providence Bruins AHL 31 10 13 23 10 — — — — —
2023–24 Boston Bruins NHL 47 6 8 14 8 8 0 1 1 0
SHL totals 98 16 39 55 20 20 1 1 2 4
NHL totals 236 34 35 69 30 14 0 1 1 0
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2018 United States
IIHF World U18 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2016 United States

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2015 Sweden IH18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 0 1 1 4
2016 Sweden U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 2 1 3 2
2018 Sweden WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 1 0 1 2
Junior totals 18 3 2 5 8

References

  1. ^ "Ännu ett framtidsnamn skriver kontrakt". Brynäs IF (in Swedish). 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  2. ^ "RELEASE: Boqvist Agrees to Terms". NHL.com. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Kahkonen has 32 saves, Suter scores, Wild win". ESPN. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  4. ^ Srinivasan, Arun (26 November 2019). "NHL reveals Devils' 1st goal vs. Wild should've been disallowed". ca.sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Boqvist accepts qualifying offer". New Jersey Devils. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Bruins sign Jesper Boqvist to one-year contract". Boston Bruins. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Bruins put Jakub Zboril, Oskar Steen and Jesper Boqvist on waivers". Boston Herald. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  8. ^ Bruins, Providence. "PROVIDENCE BRUINS ANNOUNCE OPENING NIGHT ROSTER". www.providencebruins.com. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  9. ^ Murphy, Jimmy (26 October 2023). "Mitchell Clears Waivers; Bruins Recall Boqvist". Boston Hockey Now. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Bruins Recall Jesper Boqvist from Providence". www.nhl.com. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Boston Bruins Reassign Jesper Boqvist". Pro Hockey Rumors. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Bruins Recall Jesper Boqvist, Assign Georgii Merkulov To AHL". Pro Hockey Rumors. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Bruins notebook: Jesper Boqvist catching on at last". Boston Herald. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  14. ^ DeRosa, Michael (30 June 2024). "Bruins Do Not Qualify Jesper Boqvist & 2 Prospects". Boston Bruins News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with Forward Jesper Boqvist on One-Year Contract". www.nhl.com. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Adam Boqvist player profile". eliteprospects.com. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.