# Jesper Boqvist

Jesper Boqvist (born 30 October 1998) is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Boqvist was selected 36th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2017 NHL entry draft.

## Playing career
### Brynäs IF

Boqvist made his Swedish Hockey League debut playing with Brynäs IF during the 2015–16 SHL season. On 16 May 2017, Boqvist agreed to extend his contract with Brynäs IF for a further two seasons through to 2019. Boqvist was drafted 36th overall, in the second round of the 2017 NHL entry draft, by the New Jersey Devils.

### New Jersey Devils

On 10 June 2019, Boqvist signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils. Boqvist scored his first NHL career goal in a 3–2 loss against the Minnesota Wild on 26 November. Boqvist's goal, which tied the game 1–1 in the first period, caused controversy by the play of Wayne Simmonds. The Wild used its coach's challenge for the play, but the goal was allowed to stand. The NHL then issued a statement during the third period that the goal should not have been allowed.
On 22 July 2022, Boqvist agreed to his qualifying offer with the Devils, re-signing to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2022–23 season. He made a career high 70 appearances for the Devils and matched his previous season tally of 10 goals while adding 21 points to help the Devils return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

### Boston Bruins

In the following off-season, Boqvist was not tendered a qualifying offer to remain with the Devils, releasing him as a free agent. On 12 July 2023, Boqvist agreed to a one-year, one-way $775,000 contract with the Boston Bruins for the 2023–24 season.
Boqvist did not make the NHL Bruins out of the pre-season, instead being placed on waivers with the intent of being assigned to the Bruins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Providence Bruins. He cleared waivers and started the season on Providence. Boqvist was recalled to the NHL team on 26 October. He would play one game before being sent back to Providence. This occurred again on 12 December, where Boqvist was recalled, played one game, and then sent back down. He would be recalled a third time on 6 January 2024. This time, however, he would stick with the big club, finding a comfortable role on Boston's fourth line with his speed. Boqvist scored his first as a Bruin on 9 January, against the Arizona Coyotes. Boqvist scored his first NHL playoff point in game 1 of the first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, an assist on a goal by John Beecher.

### Florida Panthers

After one year with Boston, Boqvist was not given a qualifying offer, making him a unrestricted free agent on 1 July 2024. On that day, Boqvist signed a one-year, $775,000 deal with reigning champions, the Florida Panthers.

## Personal life

Boqvist's younger brother Adam Boqvist is a defenceman for the New York Islanders.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2014–15 | Brynäs IF | J20 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Brynäs IF | J20 | 38 | 23 | 35 | 58 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Brynäs IF | SHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | Brynäs IF | J20 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 20 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | Brynäs IF | SHL | 16 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | Timrå IK | Allsv | 19 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18 | Brynäs IF | J20 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18 | Brynäs IF | SHL | 23 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2018–19 | Brynäs IF | SHL | 51 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 35 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | Binghamton Devils | AHL | 19 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Timrå IK | Allsv | 13 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 28 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Binghamton Devils | AHL | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Utica Comets | AHL | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 56 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 70 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 31 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 47 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| SHL totals | SHL totals | SHL totals | 98 | 16 | 39 | 55 | 20 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 236 | 34 | 35 | 69 | 30 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2015 | Sweden | IH18 | | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2016 | Sweden | U18 | | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2018 | Sweden | WJC | | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 18 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 |