As the eighth-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, Boqvist has no shortage of talent but knows there's still a long way to go in his career. On Wednesday afternoon, shortly after practice ended, he was assigned to the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. However, his experience during the preseason should serve him well.

One of the least experienced defenders on the roster had the chance to pick the brain of a Norris Trophy-winning veteran.

He had just finished skating alongside one of his childhood idols - Duncan Keith.

"It's pretty cool," said Adam Boqvist, as he sat down in his dressing room stall after practice on Wednesday at MB Ice Arena.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Boqvist was assigned to the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League this afternoon after the piece was published. The story has been edited to reflect the change.

"I didn't have the best game last night," he admitted. "I think I can play much better than that. I hope I can step it up a little bit."

Boqvist was part of a defensively anemic showdown against the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center on Tuesday night, in which the two teams combined for 14 goals. Eight of those found themselves into the back of the Blackhawks net.

Boqvist - who finished -2 with two assists, three shots, two hits, a blocked shot and a giveaway in 20:14 of ice time - is focused on moving forward from the loss.

Video: DET@CHI: Keith rips slap shot home from the point

"We didn't talk a lot about last game," he said. "I think everyone knows that it wasn't that good of a game from the team."

Who better to help Boqvist steer in the right direction than Keith?

"Younger guys have a lot of respect for some of the guys who have been here and the success they've experienced," said Joel Quenneville. "You get a chance to talk to them or watch them and you can absorb so much from their professionalism to how they workout in the gym, how they prepare going into a practice or how they play games, or what they say on the bench."

Quenneville sees some similarities between Boqvist and Keith already.

"When I say that, they're not big defensemen but they rely on their assets and their skills and their quickness," he said.

The comparison makes sense once you realize that Boqvist has watched Keith for years, along with his other hockey idols.

"I watched him a lot, along with Erik Karlsson, Mike Green and those types of players," he said. "It's pretty cool to be here."

When it comes to learning how to be a professional, how to practice and how to play, Boqvist says he did keep "an extra eye" on Keith on the ice. Quenneville says that can only help the club's promising rookie.

"I think the combination of their regular routine and how we play in practices, how we play in games and then you've got Duncs telling you where to go or be confident on the power play or be aware of this guy or that guy, go here and go there, it can only make you better," said Quenneville. "Learning from a guy like Duncs, who has been a special player in that regard, and knowing that they're kind of comparable in ways (can be beneficial)."

"I know he's pretty cool out there," said Boqvist. "It's not like playing with a junior player back home in Sweden. It's a huge difference, I think. He's really good. A good guy too."

In their short time together, Keith told Boqvist to be himself and feel free to make plays.

"He's told me to play my game and don't be afraid to join the rush, shoot in the offensive zone and play good defensively," he said.

As Boqvist took lessons from watching Keith to heart, he also asserted that it's a challenge to not overthink what others are doing. He's got to focus on his own performances, no matter what level he's playing in.

The decision to send Boqvist to London is what's best for the long-term development of his career.

Boqvist couldn't help but crack a smile on Wednesday as he talked about being paired with a guy like Keith. The Blackhawks hope Boqvist absorbed enough to allow their young player to grow moving forward.