Islanders Claim Defenseman Adam Boqvist Off Waivers in Blueline Shakeup

NEW YORK — The New York Islanders claimed defenseman Adam Boqvist off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Friday, marking their third move to bolster their blueline in the past week. The 24-year-old Swedish defenseman has recorded two goals and four assists in 18 games this season, averaging 12:51 of ice time.

Boqvist, who was drafted eighth overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018, has not played an NHL game since Jan. 6. He was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in July 2021 and signed a one-year, $775,000 deal with the Panthers in the offseason. Over six NHL seasons with the Panthers, Blue Jackets, and Blackhawks, Boqvist has tallied 91 points (25 goals, 66 assists) in 227 games.

The Islanders’ recent defensive overhaul began on Jan. 24, when they signed Tony DeAngelo for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. DeAngelo, 29, last played in the NHL during the 2023-24 season, recording three goals and eight assists in 31 games. This season, he posted six goals and 26 assists in 34 games with the KHL’s St. Petersburg SKA.

On Monday, the Islanders acquired another defenseman, trading a 2026 conditional fifth-round pick to the St. Louis Blues for a 26-year-old blueliner. The 5-foot-10 left-shot defenseman had two goals and six points in 24 games with the Blues this season, averaging 14:37 of ice time. He signed a one-year, $1.15 million deal with St. Louis in the offseason and will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Boqvist, a native of Falun, Sweden, has a decorated junior and international career. He played one season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), earning a spot on the OHL Second All-Star Team in 2018-19 after recording 60 points (20 goals, 40 assists) in 54 games. Before joining the Knights, he played 15 games in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Brynas IF, notching one assist.

On the international stage, Boqvist won a bronze medal with Sweden at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he led all defensemen in goals (three) and points (seven) and was named Best Defenseman. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, leading all skaters with seven assists in five games.

The Islanders’ recent acquisitions aim to address defensive depth as they push for a playoff spot in the competitive Metropolitan Division. Boqvist’s offensive upside and experience could provide a boost to their blueline as the season progresses.