Johnny Boychuk

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Johnny Boychuk
Johnny Boychuk 2013-06-07.JPG
Boychuk with the Boston Bruins in 2013
Born (1984-01-19) January 19, 1984 (age 39)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Colorado Avalanche
Boston Bruins
New York Islanders
NHL Draft 61st overall, 2002
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 20042020

John Paul Boychuk (born January 19, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Drafted 61st overall in 2002 by the Colorado Avalanche, he played for the Colorado Avalanche, the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). In 2011, he was a part of the Bruins' Stanley Cup championship team. He was traded to the Islanders prior to the 2014–15 season, where he would announce retirement after six seasons with the team.

Contents

Playing career

As a youth, Boychuk played in the 1997 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Edmonton. [1]

Boychuk was drafted 61st overall in the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2002 Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Prior to being drafted, he played with the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Calgary Hitmen. Boychuk made his professional debut with the Hershey Bears in the 2004–05 season. Boychuk spent the next four years in the Avalanche organization playing primarily for their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates. He made his NHL debut in the 2007–08 season on January 5, 2008, against the New York Islanders. Boychuk made his debut as a forward playing on the wing rather than his usual defenceman position. [2]

Boychuk with the Boston Bruins in 2010 Jboychuk.jpg
Boychuk with the Boston Bruins in 2010

On June 24, 2008, Boychuk was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Matt Hendricks. [3] He was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, to start the 2008–09 season and in his first week was named "AHL Player of the Week." [4] On December 1, 2008, Boychuk was recalled to Boston [5] and made his Bruins debut in a 3–1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 4, 2008. [6] Boychuk was then returned to Providence for the rest of the season, where he played a break-out season, [7] capturing the Eddie Shore Award by leading the league with 20 goals and 45 assists among defenceman and being named to the AHL's First All-Star Team. [8] [9]

On July 1, 2009, Boychuk secured his first one-way contract when he re-signed with the Bruins for the 2009–10 season. [10] After initially making the Bruins opening night roster, Boychuk was primarily a healthy scratch in the first months of the season. After returning from a conditioning assignment in Providence, he established himself within the Bruins as a two-way defenceman to finish with 15 points in 51 games to earn a two-year contract extension on June 24, 2010. [11]

Boychuk with the New York Islanders in November 2017. Johnny Boychuk - Colorado Avalanche vs New York Islanders (11-5-17).jpg
Boychuk with the New York Islanders in November 2017.

He was a member of the Bruins when they defeated the Vancouver Canucks to win the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. [12]

The following season, Boychuk was rewarded with a three-year contract extension to remain a fixture on the Stanley Cup-winning Bruins blueline. [13] Despite an inability to successfully defend the Stanley Cup, Boychuk produced 15 points in 77 games.

During the 2012–13 NHL lock-out, Boychuk ventured to Europe and signed a temporary contract in Austria with EC Red Bull Salzburg of the EBEL on November 16, 2012. [14] [15] He scored two goals and posted eight points in 15 games before he returned to the Bruins for the shortened 2012–13 season.

On October 4, 2014, due to salary cap constraints, Boychuk was traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for two second-round draft picks in the 2015 (previously acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers, later used to select Brandon Carlo) and 2016 NHL Entry Drafts (used on Ryan Lindgren), as well as a conditional third-rounder in the 2015 Draft (condition was never met). [16] In his Islanders debut, Boychuk scored a goal and two assists against the Carolina Hurricanes. On March 12, 2015, he signed a seven-year, $42 million contract extension with the Islanders, lasting through the 2021–22 season. [17] [18]

On November 25, 2020, the Islanders announced that Boychuk would be retiring due to an eye injury that he suffered in a game against the Montreal Canadiens on March 3, 2020. [19] [20]

In a salary cap move, the Buffalo Sabres acquired Boychuk's remaining contract from the Islanders on November 4, 2021. [21]

Personal life

In the summer of 2011, Boychuk married Sheena Burletoff. [18] The couple have twin daughters and a son. [22] [23] John Quenneville, who was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, is his nephew by marriage.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1999–2000MLAC AAA AMHL 356172359
1999–2000 Calgary Hitmen WHL 10000
2000–01 Calgary HitmenWHL664812611211217
2001–02 Calgary HitmenWHL70832408571126
2002–03 Calgary HitmenWHL408182658
2002–03 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL2751722321326829
2003–04 Moose Jaw WarriorsWHL62132033711019109
2004–05 Hershey Bears AHL 803121569
2005–06 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL746263273
2006–07 Albany River Rats AHL8010182812551124
2007–08 Colorado Avalanche NHL 40000
2007–08 Lake Erie Monsters AHL608182663
2008–09 Boston Bruins NHL10000
2008–09 Providence Bruins AHL78204666611635819
2009–10 Boston BruinsNHL515101543132466
2009–10 Providence BruinsAHL21010
2010–11 Boston BruinsNHL6931316452536912
2011–12 Boston BruinsNHL77510155371234
2012–13 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 152682
2012–13 Boston BruinsNHL44156122261710
2013–14 Boston BruinsNHL755182345121122
2014–15 New York Islanders NHL72926351470222
2015–16 New York IslandersNHL709162531110004
2016–17 New York IslandersNHL666172319
2017–18 New York IslandersNHL586121830
2018–19 New York IslandersNHL74316192540110
2019–20 New York IslandersNHL6429111430000
NHL totals7255415220633110413173040

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2002 Canada WJC18 6th51018
Junior totals51018

Awards and honours

AwardYear
AHL
First All-Star Team 2009 [9]
Eddie Shore Award 2009 [8]
NHL
Stanley Cup 2011

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References

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