New Jersey Devils: Jesper Boqvist Deserves a Chance in the Top Six
By Sean Jackson
Five of the six forward positions in New Jersey’s top six are basically locked up. Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes will serve as the first and second center, respectively. Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri, and Jesper Bratt will be on the wings. That leaves one spot open for competition in training camp. Barring any trades, it appears to be a two horse race between Wayne Simmonds and Jesper Boqvist for that last wing spot.
Simmonds will look to have a bounce back campaign. He struggled after being dealt to Nashville at the trade deadline.
Most Devils fans know how good he was in his prime, as he has scored 13 career goals against New Jersey. He scored 28 or more goals in four-straight seasons from 2013 to 2017. Simmonds will more than likely be on the first power play unit, but finding him a line is a bit more difficult.
If he were to play second-line wing along with Hughes and Bratt, he could win pucks out of the corners and park in front of the net while the playmakers feed him the puck. Unfortunately, Wayne has lost a step or two as his battle tested body continues to age. The issue is that he may be too slow to keep up on a line with speedsters in Bratt and Hughes. Someone who certainly won’t have this problem is Jesper Boqvist.
The 2017 2nd-round pick signed his entry-level contract this summer after a very strong SHL season with Brynäs. He has played professionally in Sweden for two years now, so he doesn’t have to play in a sheltered role in the NHL.
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Boqvist is known for his speed and skill, having been one of the most talented players in New Jersey’s system for a few years now. Potentially forming some chemistry with fellow Swede Jesper Bratt, a line of Bratt-Hughes-Boqvist would be an extremely young, fast, and skilled line that could skate with anyone in the league. This would also round out a blazing fast top six that features Hall, Hischier, and Palmieri. The one worry with this potential second line is a lack of size and physicality, but the NHL is obviously more speed and skill based these days, so that shouldn’t present too much of a burden.
As long as Boqvist has a fine camp, the 20 year old can probably be penciled in for a spot on the opening night roster. He would thrive with the speedsters and playmakers on the second line. His summer training with Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals will only help polish his game as he gets ready for the season.
As for Simmonds, if Hynes really wants a line that will physically dominate, he can put Wayne on a line with Miles Wood and John Hayden to just wreak havoc. But I think he best fits on the third line with Travis Zajac centering him and Blake Coleman. There is a nice combination of Simmonds’ size and net-front presence, Zajac’s playmaking ability, and Coleman’s unrelenting motor and willingness to win puck battles. We’ll see how it plays out in camp, but Jesper Boqvist unquestionably deserves a chance in the top 6 to start the season.