With their second pick of the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks drafted forward Sacha Boisvert No. 18 overall.
Boisvert, who turned 18 in March, is committed to play for North Dakota next season after spending the last two seasons with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. The 6-foot-2, 183-pound center tallied 68 points (36 G, 32 A) in 61 regular-season games last season while adding three assists in eight postseason games.
This pick initially came to the Blackhawks in March 2022 as part of the trade that sent Brandon Hagel to the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was going to be the No. 20 pick in this year’s draft until Chicago used it to move up two more spots in a deal with the New York Islanders earlier this month.
Here’s some extra information on Boisvert that was compiled for our post this morning:
Boisvert is a goalscorer. A deceptive wrister and powerful one-timer make him a threat from distance, while his net-front skills and off-puck timing drive his in-tight finishing. He can also make just about every pass in the book, easily navigating layers of sticks with slip and saucer passes, even off the backhand. The passing skills appear mostly off the rush, finding cross-ice targets for high-value entries and faking the shot to prepare the cross-slot lane.
— EliteProspects 2024 NHL Draft Guide
Boisvert’s got desired height and position on his side, room to fill out his once-wiry frame (which he already added a bunch of muscle to last summer; he still looks lean with further growth to come), and NHL skill and competitiveness. Intangibles come up a lot when you speak to people about him (he even dropped the gloves a few times this year, including in the playoffs). The skill includes a quick and accurate NHL-level release, good instincts on and off the puck, above-average feet (he’s a decent skater, even if a little upright in his stance), a developing power game and great feel with the puck on his stick both at speed and in slowing the game down (though a high grip and long stick can occasionally limit him with the puck so far out in front of his body). Add in his impressive work ethic and a two-way commitment and there’s a lot to like… He’s got middle-six upside and there was some top-15 chatter about him late in the year, but after struggling to be a game-changer in tighter playoff games, I wonder if that has softened.
— Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
Boisvert is a player that grew on me all year. Almost every facet of his game improved this year. He is a reliable center who drives play in the ozone and isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas and win battles. He is a solid skater, and as he gains strength I think his skating will become a strength. He has good edges for a bigger guy and can make defenders miss with them. He has a very quick and accurate release and can beat goalies from distance. He shows flashes of playmaking brilliance but needs to be more consistent with it. His work ethic at both sides of the puck really improved as the year went on and he was very skilled on the PK. Boisvert projects to be a middle 6 center at the NHL level who can be dangerous on the PP, be a reliable PKer, and annoy the other team.
— Tait Borst, Recruit Scouting