Just two days after his sophomore season of college hockey ended with Boston University, Chicago Blackhawks 2024 first-round pick (No. 18 overall) Sacha Boisvert is officially NHL-bound.
The Blackhawks announced on Monday morning that Boisvert signed a three-year, entry-level contract, carrying a $974,167 cap hit. Boisvert, who will turn 20 years old on Tuesday, recorded 17 points (3G, 14A) in 26 NCAA games with the Terriers in 2025-26.
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While Boisvert’s sophomore campaign, and his lone season with Boston University, wasn’t as productive as everyone had hoped, the Blackhawks still remain confident that he’s ready to make the leap to the professional level.
“A cliche that I’ve never been a fan of, but I think can ring true for Sacha, is he has the style of game that could make him a better pro than actual college player,” Blackhawks assistant GM Eaton said recently in an interview with Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times. “I do think that…he is ready for pro, and pro is the best next step for him.”
After a standout post-draft freshman year with North Dakota, where he recorded a team-high 18 goals and 32 points as an 18-year-old, Boisvert hit the transfer portal when the Fighting Hawks fired long-time head coach Brad Berry. Boisvert, named the NCHC’s Rookie of the Year, ultimately landed with BU, where he was expected to take on the team’s top-line center role.
Boisvert opened the season in precisely that position, but he never seemed to get comfortable and suffered a few different setbacks along the way. From an early nagging shoulder injury to getting suspended for fighting, in addition to being healthy scratched for the team’s opening game of the Hockey East Conference Tournament for missing a meeting. Not to mention the lack of consistency on offense, where his point total was nearly cut in half from his freshman year.
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Regardless of the recent turmoil, Boisvert will now put that behind him and embark on the beginning of his NHL journey with Chicago. According to reports, Boisvert is dealing with some visa troubles, but he’ll likely join the team and make his NHL debut in one of their three games this week. The Blackhawks face the Minnesota Wild in a home-and-home series on Tuesday and Thursday before playing the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.
As far as where Boisvert will slot into the lineup, he should be a prime candidate to fill the team’s third-line center role that’s opened up with the Jason Dickinson trade and Oliver Moore’s recent injury. He predominantly played center during his two years in the NCAA and is a well-rounded two-way player. Boisvert could also slide into the center position on the Blackhawks’ fourth line and join forces with fellow youngster Nick Lardis. Pairing those two together would make much more sense than having Sam Lafferty serve as Lardis’ center iceman.
Boisvert’s addition could also help the Blackhawks in the physicality department, as they’ve been missing an edge in their forward group after dealing both Nick Foligno and Colton Dach at the deadline. With a 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame, Boisvert isn’t afraid to throw his body around and mix it up. He also has a boxing background, which was on full display during his electric scrap with UMass-Lowell’s Connor Eddy in January.
Considering the skill and sandpaper Boisvert brings to the table, he’s a very intriguing prospect in the Blackhawks’ deep pipelines. Whether it be on Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday, it will be fascinating to see how he fares in his NHL debut and meshes with a remarkably young roster for the home stretch of the 2025-26 season.
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