Blackhawks sign Sacha Boisvert to ELC
On Monday morning, the Blackhawks signed 2024 18th overall pick Sacha Boisvert to his entry-level NHL contract (3 years x $974,167). Boisvert looks to make his NHL debut later in the week. But where will he slot in?
Photo by: Eliza Neustro
The 6’3” Canadian is awaiting his work visa to get approved before he can practice with the team or play in any games. Boisvert was originally on a student visa while attending Boston University, but now has to change that to a work visa for the NHL. The Blackhawks play Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. It is expected that Boisvert will make his debut in one of those 3 games. Boisvert is the 4th draft pick from 2024 that the Blackhawks have signed (Artyom Levshunov, Sacha Boisvert, Marek Vanacker, AJ Spellacy).
What does Boisvert bring to the Blackhawks?
Sacha Boisvert isn’t going to start scoring the lights out immediately upon his arrival into the NHL, this will be his first taste of professional hockey after all. That is the exact purpose of bringing him in for a few games to close out the year, to give him a taste. It is also common for Kyle Davidson to burn the first year if a player’s entry-level contract. Boisvert is most likely going to slot in as a bottom 6 center (likely 4th line). “He’s going to need to have a physical impact on a night-to-night basis. If he can do that, he becomes a real commodity…and can add something to our team that I don’t know if we have enough of.” - Head Coach Jeff Blashill on Boisvert’s arrival.
Sacha has had a down year this season for BU, although the team has struggled and underperformed as a whole so it doesn’t speak to Boisvert individually as much as you may think. The 19 year old has put up 17 points in 26 games this season, a step back from his 32 points in 37 games with The University of North Dakota last season.
Projected lines with Boisvert
The Blackhawks practiced today with the following forward lines:
Greene - Bedard - Burakovksy
Bertuzzi - Nazar - Teravainen
Mangiapane - Donato - Mikheyev
Lardis - Lafferty - Slaggert
Boisvert will likely slot in for Sam Lafferty, who has only played 22 games this season for the Blackhawks (1 goal 1 assist). Lafferty has embraced his role this season as a 13th forward and a veteran presence.
This taste of NHL action is a great opportunity for Boisvert to show the Blackhawks, as well as their fans, who he is and how he plays. Boisvert will likely spend most, if not all of next season down in Rockford, learning and developing his game as a pro.
