Sacha Boisvert’s first taste of NHL action with the Chicago Blackhawks was brief, uneven, and still enough to leave a real impression on the organization’s evaluation of him.
Boisvert arrived in late March after an underwhelming sophomore season at Boston University, a year that followed a standout freshman campaign at North Dakota. Injuries played a role in the dip, and by the time he turned pro, the Blackhawks were getting a player whose college stock had taken a hit but whose upside was still very much part of the conversation. Visa issues delayed his debut, and he didn’t appear in every game down the stretch.
When he finally got into the lineup, Boisvert logged seven games, mostly on the fourth line, and finished with a goal and an assist. The early read was straightforward: he wasn’t physically ready for the NHL yet.
That part, at least, seems to have changed. Boisvert added muscle over the offseason and is now listed at 205 pounds.
The grades from the Blackhawks’ evaluators landed in a pretty tight range. Blackhawks Cowboy gave him a C, noting that Boisvert’s impact was subtle but that he wasn’t a liability and looked more comfortable as his stint went on, especially after posting two points in his last three games.
Tony Marchese also gave him a C, pointing to a “small cup of coffee” in Chicago and saying Boisvert made the most of his seven games by scoring one goal and one assist. Ron Luce came in a touch lower with a C-, saying the young forward didn’t get much time to show what he could do, though he did score his first career goal and should get meaningful minutes in Rockford next season.
That next step looks obvious. Boisvert is expected to start the year with the Rockford IceHogs, where he should get plenty of ice time on a young roster. The Blackhawks clearly see him as a player still on the rise, and his improved frame suggests he’s better equipped now for the grind ahead.
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