The Chicago Blackhawks have assigned defenseman Adam Boqvist, their top pick in this year’s draft, to the OHL’s London Knights.
Chicago selected Boqvist, who turned 18 on Aug. 15, with the No. 8 overall pick in June. The Swedish blueliner impressed Hawks head coach Joel Quenneville enough to the point he said after Thursday’s preseason game in Detroit that Chicago was considering keeping him in the NHL.
Chicago also assigned defenseman Nicolas Beaudin, another first-round pick from this year, to Drummondville in the QMJHL on Friday.
Boqvist, a right-handed blueliner, will play his first season in North America with London after playing for Brynäs in Sweden.