After the New Jersey Devils nabbed Nico Hischier with the first overall pick at the 2017 National Hockey League draft, the club added two handfuls of players on day two.
The first prospect the Devils drafted after Hischier was 18-year-old, left-shooting center Jesper Boqvist, taken 36th overall. The Hedemora, Sweden, native collected six assists in 16 games with Brynas (Swedish Hockey League) this past season and one goal in 10 postseason matches to help the club reach the final. He also tallied 12 points (3-9-12) in 19 games with Timra in Sweden’s secondtier league, and he totaled 15 points (10-5-15) in 15 matches with Brynas’ junior club.
Boqvist, 5-11, 165 pounds, stated that his strengths are his skating and puck skills, and that he sees the ice well. His idol is Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom since "his passing game helps make his linemates better." His focus this offseason is to "gain some weight and become stronger and tougher."
