The Chicago Blackhawks are seeing some major moves among their young talent, with three first-round draft picks making headlines this week.
Two rookies just got their first taste of NHL action. Defenseman Sam Rinzel and center Oliver Moore, picked in 2022 and 2023 respectively, signed their entry-level contracts and jumped straight into Sunday’s game.
But it’s their 2024 first-rounder who’s making waves in college hockey.
Sacha Boisvert, the 18th overall pick from last summer, is looking for a new school. The 19-year-old center has entered the transfer portal after just one season at the University of North Dakota.
Here’s what makes this interesting: Boisvert was actually crushing it at North Dakota.
He led the team with 32 points – scoring 18 goals and adding 14 assists in 37 games. That’s pretty impressive considering he was playing alongside 14 other NHL draft picks.
Before college, Boisvert lit up the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, putting up 36 goals and 32 assists in 61 games. Most scouts had him ranked in the 20s, but the Blackhawks saw something special and grabbed him earlier.
The timing of his transfer is a bit surprising. He was already playing a big role for the Fighting Hawks as a freshman, but it looks like he’s searching for an even better fit.
When Chicago drafted him, they knew he’d need a few years of college hockey to develop. This transfer doesn’t speed up his path to the NHL – if anything, it might take a bit longer now.
But after such a strong freshman year, it seems like Boisvert is still on track, even if he’s taking a different route to get there.
