Florida continues to fill out its bottom six after signing Jesper Boqvist to a one-year deal on Monday. The 25-year-old has five years of NHL experience under his belt but struggled to produce in his first season in Boston in 2023-24 with just six goals and 14 points in 47 games played.
Boqvist missed Game 1 due to an undisclosed injury but will draw back into the lineup on Wednesday for Game 2 as he replaces Patrick Brown. The 25-year-old has appeared in seven games so far for the Bruins, picking up an assist and four SOG while averaging 9:28 TOI.
Boqvist appeared in all seven of Boston's opening series games vs. Toronto but appears to be a healthy scratch for Game 1 on Monday in Florida. The 25-year-old averaged 9:28 TOI in the opening round and had an assist, four SOG and a +1 plus/minus. He is expected to be replaced by Patrick Brown.
Boqvist is expected to draw into the Bruins lineup for the first time since October 26th as Matthew Poitras (load management) will not play on Friday. In 24 games with the Providence Bruins of the AHL, Boqvist has 14 points (5G / 9A) this season.
Boqvist is no stranger to the NHL level, amassing 190 games and scoring 55 points (28G / 27A) in the process. However, he has spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Providence Bruins of the AHL, tallying 14 points (5G / 9A) in 24 games. His call-up is a potential sign that Pavel Zacha (upper-body) might not be ready to return to the Bruins' lineup.
Boqvist played in his first game of the season on Thursday vs. Anaheim and had no counting stats after 10 shifts and 6:02 TOI and has been reassigned to Providence (AHL) Friday. The 24-year-old forward returns to the minors, where he has no goals, two assists, and four PIMs in five games so far in 2023-24.
The Bruins have recalled Boqvist as a result of news from earlier today that Milan Lucic will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Boqvist, who will be an option to slide onto the Bruins fourth line, played 70 games with the New Jersey Devils last season, tallying 21 points (10G / 11A).
Boqvist had 10 goals, 11 assists, 67 SOG, two PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 70 games with New Jersey in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with Boston. The 24-year-old centre was selected by New Jersey in the second-round of the 2017 NHL Draft (36th overall) and has collected 28 goals and 55 points across 189 games in four seasons in New Jersey.
Boqvist played 10:19 TOI in Game 1, picking up one SOG across 16 shifts but will be a healthy scratch as he takes a seat for Yegor Sharangovich ahead of Game 2. The 24-year-old closed out his regular season with 10 goals, 11 assists, 67 SOG and a +8 plus/minus through 70 games and will hope to draw back into the lineup soon.
Boqvist missed the Devils' previous two games due to an undisclosed injury but is expected to return Thursday as the team takes on the New York Rangers. The 24-year-old has eight goals, eight assists, 59 SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 62 games prior to his injury.
Boqvist suffered an upper-body injury in Florida on November 18th and was moved to IR on Thursday. Moving Boqvist to IR opened up a roster spot to claim Nathan Bastian off of waivers from Seattle. Boqvist is eligible to come off of IR whenever he is healthy.