UPDATE: The Islanders are not retiring Boychuk in order to to able to use his $6-million cap hit if they need to by putting Boychuk on LTIR.
New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk is forced to call it a career. The Islanders and NHL.com have announced that the 36-year-old blue liner won't be playing due to an eye injury suffered during the 2019-20 regular season. The most recent injury was the second to the same eye.
Boychuk had suffered a gruesome-looking eye injury just days before the NHL season was paused in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, but had announced prior to the Return to Play plan this summer that he had fully recovered. On March 3rd, Boychuk was hit by the skate of the Montreal Canadiens' Artturi Lehkonen and needed 90 stitches to repair a cut above his eyelid. It was reported that he did not suffer any damage to the eye itself.
This is terrible news for the talented veteran player whose 13-year career comes to an end. He spent it with the Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins and Islanders, playing in 725 games, scoring 206 points (54 goals and 152 assists). He was acquired by the Islanders in 2014 from the Bruins and went on to have a career year in goals (nine), assists (26) and points (35) that same season (2014-15).
He also took part in a total of 104 playoff contests, tallying 30 points (13 goals and 17 assists). He was a member of Boston’s 2011 Stanley Cup Championship team, playing in all 25 games that playoff, scoring nine points (three goals and six assists).
Boychuk is still under contract until 2021-22, at a $6 million cap hit. The Islanders are expected to place him on long term injury reserve at this point.
This is such an unfortunate way to end one’s career. All the best to Boychuk…
