Preordained path?
It might seem that way given Borgström’s connections to Hawks “He can make plays and he can score goals, set up goals and hopefully be another piece to complement our team and be a two-way player.”
—Stan Bowman, Blackhawks president of hockey operations on prospect Henrik Borgström
When you look at Henrik Borgström’s history, it’s almost as though his path to the Blackhawks was preordained.
Borgström, a Helsinki native, attended the same high school as Hawks goaltender and fellow Finn Kevin Lankinen.
Borgström, 23, was a teammate of current Hawks defenseman Ian Mitchell at the University of Denver. And during Borgström’s freshman year, the Pioneers won the 2017 NCAA title at the United Center, where the Hawks’ home ice served as host to the Frozen Four.
“Yeah, that’s pretty crazy,” Borgstöm told Chicago media Thursday, a day after agreeing to terms with the Hawks. “Four years ago already, and that was unbelievable.
“We actually had the Blackhawks locker room for ourselves. That was amazing to play the Frozen Four, and now getting to sign with Chicago. That was special.”
The Hawks have high hopes for Borgström, who reached an agreement on a two-year contract that runs through 202223 and carries a $1 million annual cap hit.
President of hockey operations Stan Bowman called the 6-foot-3, 199-pound center an intriguing player.
“He’s a big kid, he’s tall, he’s got good hands, he can make plays, offensive-type player but pretty good instincts for the game as well,” Bowman said Wednesday. “It’s going to be important for him to be a solid two-way player so we can tap into the skill he has.
“He can make plays and he can score goals, set up goals and hopefully be another piece to complement our team and be a two-way player.”
Bowman noticed Borgström at Denver while monitoring the progress of defenseman Blake Hillman and Mitchell, Hawks draft picks in 2016 and ’17, respectively.
Coach Jeremy Colliton said Bowman brought Borgström to his attention last summer.
“Got a chance to watch him too,” Colliton said Wednesday. “Highly skilled, big body, skates well, protects the puck, wants to make plays, make a difference in the game. Competitive and I’m excited to work with him.
“(I) feel those are the type of guys you love to have because they can take a huge step and help your team.”
Bowman and Colliton have had conversations with Borgström about how he might fit into next season’s picture — if he makes the team.
“They were talking about how they want to be a puck-possession team as well, which is good,” Borgström said. “I still have lots of work to do in the summer and hope to get the spot.”
Borgström’s father, Kim, owns a hockey rink in Helsinki, allowing him to grow up in the sport.
“He always used to work and coach with young kids,” Borgström said. “So I would always be at the rink with him, just playing street hockey with my two little brothers.
“It’s always been natural for me. It’s just a way of life for me.”
Borgström has been called a natural before, though what looked like a promising trajectory to NHL stardom has had its rough patches.
It started well enough. The Florida Panthers selected Borgström with the 23rd pick in the 2016 draft.
“I played four games up with the (Panthers) when I first came from college. Next season, started in AHL, went pretty well,” he said, referring his five goals and 17 assists in 24 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2018-19. “Got up to the big team.”
Borgström had eight goals and 10 assists in 50 games for the Panthers in ‘18-19.
“Next season started to go a little downhill,” he said.
He made just four appearances for the Panthers in October 2019 and posted no points.
Coach Joel Quenneville made him a healthy scratch, and Borgström was sent down to Springfield, and he never was called up again. He played out the season with the Thunderbirds and recorded 11 goals and 12 assists in 49 games.
“I got injured at the end of last season in the last game of the (2019-20) season (for the Thunderbird ss)o that took awhile,” he said. “Then I hurt my ankle before the (2020-21) season started. So it was a tough start for me when I got back into the game late November” with HIFK.
Borgström opted to sign with HIFK of the Finnish league in October 2020 instead of continuing to pursue an uncertain future in Florida.
Because of the injury “I didn’t feel like I was really in shape,” he said. “With the whole pandemic situation going on, I thought it would be better for me to stay in Finland and play in a familiar place. Just trying to get back in the rhythm and find my game again.”
Borgström had 11 goals and 10 assists in 30 games for HIFK, with a plus-minus rating of 12.
“A lot of times you feel he has eyes in the back (of his head),” HIFK general manager Tobias Salmelainen told the Tribune last month.
Said Borgström: “It took a little time to get back, but then I started to grow better and better as the time flew by. At the end of the season, I started feeling all the time and pretty good about myself.”
In the midst of Borgström’s HIFK campaign, the Hawks traded for him — along with forward Brett Connolly, defenseman Riley Stillman and a seventh-round pick — in a deal that sent Lucas Carlsson and Lucas Wallmark to the Panthers.
Borgström wasn’t under an NHL contract, but the Hawks held his negotiating rights.
“After the trade it became pretty obvious that I would probably sign with Chicago,” he said. “Really, really glad it went through.”
Borgström reflected on his three seasons in the Panthers system.
“It was a tough start,” he said. “I thought there were games there that I could have been better. Of course, it’s always coaches and management’s decision. … Obviously I was hoping to get a little more time, but I don’t like to think about it now.
“There’s going to be a new opportunity for me next season, and I’m going to be focused on that.”
Borgström was happy to reunite with Mitchell, who was a freshman at Denver when Borgstrom was a sophomore.
“Hopefully that helps me,” he said. “I know Mitchy well.”
Borgström also hopes to build on his relationship with coaches, who hold the key to his development. It’s a fresh start at a critical point in his career, and he expressed confidence that things will turn out differently in Chicago because of the Hawks’ belief in him.
“Of course, that gives me energy, for sure,” he said. “Just having the thought that the team wanted me, which is really, really nice.”