With 10th NHL game this year, Adam Boqvist will finish 3-year deal in 2021-22
The Blackhawks' decision to play Adam Boqvist against Minnesota on Sunday means the rookie defenseman's three-year, entry-level deal will end in 2021-22, not 2022-23.
If Boqvist played in nine or fewer NHL games this season, his contract would have extended one year, but he played in his 10th contest against the Wild at the United Center on Sunday.
"Maybe that was a discussion very early on," coach Jeremy Colliton said of keeping Boqvist in the AHL for the majority of the season. "But as far as a coach perspective, we like him. I think he's played well and it's an opportunity with some injuries to give him some ice time. He's handled it well so far."
Boqvist will become a restricted free agent in 2022-23.
When he becomes an unrestricted free agent, however, is still up in the air. If he plays 39 or fewer games this season, he won't become a UFA until 2026-27; if he plays in 40 or more, his first UFA year will be 2025-26.
Boqvist, who was paired with Olli Maatta, has 1 goal and 1 assist. He is averaging almost 15 minutes per game.
Injury updates:
Duncan Keith, who has missed nine games with a groin injury, has resumed skating. There is no timetable for the defenseman's return, however.
Coach Jeremy Colliton also said the Hawks are still deciding what to do with Calvin de Haan, who suffered a shoulder injury during a 5-1 loss in Vegas on Tuesday. Colliton has already said it's "likely" that de Haan will miss significant time.
Slap shots:
Patrick Kane notched the sixth hat trick of his career in the Hawks' 5-3 victory over Minnesota at the United Center on Sunday. He is tied for seventh in team history. Bobby Hull is the leader with 28. ... Kane now has 374 career goals, 3 shy of tying Denis Savard for fourth on the Hawks. ... Brandon Saad's game-winner was the 35th of his career. He now has 11 goals on the season. ...
Jonathan Toews (3 assists) has 50 points against Minnesota, the most against any team in the NHL. He is also 31-for-37 (83.8 percent) on faceoffs over the last two games. ... David Kampf's second-period goal was his fifth of the season, a career high. ...
Minnesota has played 21 of 31 games on the road, where it is 7-12-2. The Wild are 9-1-3 at home. ... Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk has missed the last 13 games to deal with a medical condition to his wife that required hospitalization. He was at the United Center on Sunday.