What went wrong for Henrik Borgström, and can the Blackhawks resurrect his career?
When Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is running down trade targets, it's pretty straightforward: Scan for players with prior experience in his organization, and that failing, look at old NHL Draft boards, meticulously scouring for former first-round picks in need of a change of scenery and a second-chance that he's all too happy to offer.
One can comfortably slot Henrik Borgström, who they acquired in yesterday's six-piece transaction with the Florida Panthers, in the latter of those two bins. He's now part of a rich tradition of former top picks joining the Blackhawks for a second chance, with players like Dylan Strome, Alexander Nylander, Slater Koekkoek, Nikita Zadorov, Olli Määttä, Brendan Perlini, Calvin de Haan, and John Quenneville.
Borgström doesn't carry the prestigious pedigree of a Strome, but at his age, he is also far from a reclamation project, especially considering his unusual development.