Johnny Boychuk

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Johnny Boychuk

| image = Johnny Boychuk 2013-06-07.JPG

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Boychuk with the Boston Bruins in June 2013

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|1|19}}

| birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 225

| position = Defence

| shoots = Right

| played_for = Colorado Avalanche
Boston Bruins
New York Islanders

| draft = 61st overall

| draft_year = 2002

| draft_team = Colorado Avalanche

| career_start = 2004

| career_end = 2020

}}

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.

Playing career

As a youth, Boychuk played in the 1997 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Edmonton.{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=2019-02-11|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_7893579 |title=Once again, Clark's "D" impressive |work=Denver Post |date=January 6, 2008 |access-date=October 22, 2014 |last=Dater |first=Adrian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023005019/http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_7893579 |archive-date=October 23, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

File:jboychuk.jpg in December 2010]]

On June 24, 2008, Boychuk was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Matt Hendricks.{{cite web|url=http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=449025|title=Boston acquires Johnny Boychuk|work=National Hockey League|date=June 24, 2008|access-date=October 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023001500/http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=449025|archive-date=October 23, 2014 }} 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."{{cite web|url=http://theahl.com/bruins-defenseman-boychuk-named-player-of-the-week-p133355 |title=Bruins defenseman Boychuk named Player of the Week |work=American Hockey League |date=October 20, 2008 |access-date=October 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023002555/http://theahl.com/bruins-defenseman-boychuk-named-player-of-the-week-p133355 |archive-date=October 23, 2014 |url-status=unfit }} On December 1, 2008, Boychuk was recalled to Boston{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=395581|title=Bruins recall Boychuk and Lashoff from AHL|work=National Hockey League|date=December 2, 2008|access-date=October 22, 2014}} and made his Bruins debut in a 3–1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 4, 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2008/12/06/the_kids_were_all_right_against_lightning/|title=The kids were all right against Lightning|work=Boston.com|date=December 6, 2008|access-date=December 6, 2008|last=Dupont|first=Kevin Paul|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207005623/http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2008/12/06/the_kids_were_all_right_against_lightning|archive-date=December 7, 2008}} Boychuk was then returned to Providence for the rest of the season, where he played a break-out season,{{cite web|url=http://www.thebruinsblog.net/2009/04/07/boychuks-manly-performance-has-powered-providence/|title=Boychuk's manly performance has powered Providence|work=thebruinsblog.net|date=April 4, 2009|access-date=May 31, 2009|last=Kalman|first=Matt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022083324/http://www.thebruinsblog.net/2009/04/07/boychuks-manly-performance-has-powered-providence/|archive-date=October 22, 2014}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://theahl.com/bruins-boychuk-captures-eddie-shore-award-p132565|title = Bruins' Boychuk captures Eddie Shore Award|date = April 3, 2009|access-date =October 21, 2014|work=American Hockey League|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022054800/http://theahl.com/bruins-boychuk-captures-eddie-shore-award-p132565|archive-date=October 22, 2014 }}{{Cite web|url = http://theahl.com/first-and-second-ahl-all-star-teams-unveiled-p132570|title = First and Second AHL All-Star Teams unveiled|date = April 2, 2009|access-date = October 22, 2014|work=American Hockey League|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141022225132/http://theahl.com/first-and-second-ahl-all-star-teams-unveiled-p132570|archive-date = October 22, 2014}}

On July 1, 2009, Boychuk secured his first one-way contract when he re-signed with the Bruins for the 2009–10 season.{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2009/09/04/boychuk_is_next_in_line_on_bruins_blue_line/?page=1|title=Boychuk is next in line on Bruins' blue line | newspaper =The Boston Globe | date = 2009-09-04 | access-date = 2009-09-04 | first=Fluto | last=Shinzawa|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090910031232/http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2009/09/04/boychuk_is_next_in_line_on_bruins_blue_line/?page=1|archive-date = 2009-09-10|url-status = live}} 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.{{cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=325572 | title = Boston inks D Boychuk to two-year contract | publisher = The Associated Press | date = 2010-06-24 | access-date = 2014-10-22|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140116073402/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=325572|archive-date = 2014-01-16|url-status = dead|website = The Sports Network}}

File:Johnny Boychuk - Colorado Avalanche vs New York Islanders (11-5-17).jpg in November 2017.]]

He was a member of the Bruins when they defeated the Vancouver Canucks to win the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals.{{cite web| url = http://www.hitmenhockey.com/article/johnny-boychuk-and-the-boston-bruins-win-the-stanley-cup | title = Johnny Boychuk and the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup | publisher = Calgary Hitmen | date = 2011-06-16 | access-date = 2014-10-22|last = Curle|first = Brad|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141023020711/http://www.hitmenhockey.com/article/johnny-boychuk-and-the-boston-bruins-win-the-stanley-cup|archive-date=2014-10-23 |url-status = live}}

The following season, Boychuk was rewarded with a three-year contract extension to remain a fixture on the Stanley Cup-winning Bruins blueline.{{cite web| url = http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=616944 | title = B's Sign Boychuk to Extension | publisher = Boston Bruins | date = 2012-02-14 | access-date = 2012-02-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120419005958/http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=616944|archive-date = 2012-04-19|url-status = live}} 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.{{cite web|url = http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1411503-johnny-boychuk-boston-bruins-defenseman-signs-in-austrian-league|title = Johnny Boychuk: Boston Bruins Defenseman Signs in Austrian League|date = November 16, 2012|access-date = October 22, 2014|website = Bleacher Report|last = Blanchard|first = Chris|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141023032145/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1411503-johnny-boychuk-boston-bruins-defenseman-signs-in-austrian-league|archive-date=2014-10-23 |url-status = live}}{{Cite web| url = https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=373439682741106&set=a.148419321909811.38115.125639407521136&type=1 | title = EC Red Bulls sign Stanley Cup winner Boychuk | publisher = Facebook | date = 2012-11-16 | access-date = 2012-11-16 | language = de}} 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).{{Cite web|url = https://www.tsn.ca/islanders-acquire-defencemen-boychuk-leddy-1.98976|title = Islanders acquire defencemen Boychuk, Leddy|date = 2014-10-04|access-date = 2014-10-22|publisher = The Sports Network|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006111119/http://www.tsn.ca/islanders-acquire-defencemen-boychuk-leddy-1.98976|archive-date = 2014-10-06|url-status = live}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=757741|title=Boychuk Agrees to Seven-Year Deal|work=National Hockey League|access-date=March 12, 2015|date=March 12, 2015}}{{Cite web| url = http://nesn.com/2011/09/johnny-boychuks-wedding-made-offseason-even-more-exciting-but-bruins-defenseman-ready-to-have-fun-go/ | title = Johnny Boychuk's Wedding Made Offseason Even More Exciting, But Bruins Defenseman Ready to Have Fun Going for Stanley Cup Repeat | website = nesn.com | date = 2011-09-14 | access-date = 2014-10-22|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006103223/http://nesn.com/2011/09/johnny-boychuks-wedding-made-offseason-even-more-exciting-but-bruins-defenseman-ready-to-have-fun-go/|archive-date = 2014-10-06|url-status = live}}

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.{{cite web |title=Recent Eye Injury Ends Boychuk Career |url=https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/recent-eye-injury-ends-boychuk-career/c-319710102 |website=NHL.com |access-date=November 25, 2020 |date=November 25, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Eye injury ends Islanders D Boychuk's career |url=https://www.tsn.ca/eye-injury-ends-new-york-islanders-d-johnny-boychuk-s-career-1.1556345 |website=TSN.ca |access-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125175212/https://www.tsn.ca/eye-injury-ends-new-york-islanders-d-johnny-boychuk-s-career-1.1556345 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |date=November 25, 2020}}

In a salary cap move, the Buffalo Sabres acquired Boychuk's remaining contract from the Islanders on November 4, 2021.{{cite web|title=Sabres acquire Boychuk from Islanders|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-acquire-defenseman-johnny-boychuk-from-new-york-islanders-trade/c-327570186|website=NHL.com|date=November 4, 2021}}

Personal life

In the summer of 2011 John married Sheena Burletoff. The couple have twin daughters and a son.{{Cite web|url = http://www.csnne.com/boston-bruins/nhl-notes-canucks-flap-wakeup-marchand|title = NHL Notes: Canucks flap a wakeup for Marchand?|date = January 17, 2014|access-date = 2014-10-22|website = Comcast SportsNet New England|last = Haggerty|first = Joe|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141023035734/http://www.csnne.com/boston-bruins/nhl-notes-canucks-flap-wakeup-marchand|archive-date = October 23, 2014|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web | url = http://video.bruins.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=536721 | title = Bruins defenseman welcomes twin package | publisher = Boston Bruins | date = 2014-01-13 | access-date = 2014-01-13 | archive-date = January 16, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140116070153/http://video.bruins.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=536721 | url-status = dead }} 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=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

1999–2000

| MLAC AAA

| AMHL

| 35

| 6

| 17

| 23

| 59

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1999–2000

| Calgary Hitmen

| WHL

| 1

| 0

| —

2000–01

| Calgary Hitmen

| WHL

| 66

| 4

| 8

| 12

| 61

| 12

| 1

| 2

| 17

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2001–02

| Calgary Hitmen

| WHL

| 70

| 8

| 32

| 40

| 85

| 7

| 1

| 2

| 6

2002–03

| Calgary Hitmen

| WHL

| 40

| 8

| 18

| 26

| 58

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2002–03

| Moose Jaw Warriors

| WHL

| 27

| 5

| 17

| 22

| 32

| 13

| 2

| 6

| 8

| 29

2003–04

| Moose Jaw Warriors

| WHL

| 62

| 13

| 20

| 33

| 71

| 10

| 1

| 9

| 10

| 9

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2004–05

| Hershey Bears

| AHL

| 80

| 3

| 12

| 15

| 69

| —

2005–06

| Lowell Lock Monsters

| AHL

| 74

| 6

| 26

| 32

| 73

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2006–07

| Albany River Rats

| AHL

| 80

| 10

| 18

| 28

| 125

| 5

| 1

| 2

| 4

2007–08

| Colorado Avalanche

| NHL

| 4

| 0

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2007–08

| Lake Erie Monsters

| AHL

| 60

| 8

| 18

| 26

| 63

| —

2008–09

| Boston Bruins

| NHL

| 1

| 0

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2008–09

| Providence Bruins

| AHL

| 78

| 20

| 46

| 66

| 61

| 16

| 3

| 5

| 8

| 19

2009–10

| Boston Bruins

| NHL

| 51

| 5

| 10

| 15

| 43

| 13

| 2

| 4

| 6

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2009–10

| Providence Bruins

| AHL

| 2

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 0

| —

2010–11

| Boston Bruins

| NHL

| 69

| 3

| 13

| 16

| 45

| 25

| 3

| 6

| 9

| 12

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2011–12

| Boston Bruins

| NHL

| 77

| 5

| 10

| 15

| 53

| 7

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 4

2012–13

| EC Red Bull Salzburg

| EBEL

| 15

| 2

| 6

| 8

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2012–13

| Boston Bruins

| NHL

| 44

| 1

| 5

| 6

| 12

| 22

| 6

| 1

| 7

| 10

2013–14

| Boston Bruins

| NHL

| 75

| 5

| 18

| 23

| 45

| 12

| 1

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014–15

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 72

| 9

| 26

| 35

| 14

| 7

| 0

| 2

2015–16

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 70

| 9

| 16

| 25

| 31

| 11

| 0

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2016–17

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 66

| 6

| 17

| 23

| 19

| —

2017–18

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 58

| 6

| 12

| 18

| 30

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2018–19

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 74

| 3

| 16

| 19

| 25

| 4

| 0

| 1

| 0

2019–20

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 64

| 2

| 9

| 11

| 14

| 3

| 0

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 725

! 54

! 152

! 206

! 331

! 104

! 13

! 17

! 30

! 40

=International=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2002

| Canada

| WJC18

| 6th

| 5

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 8

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan=4 | Junior totals

! 5

! 1

! 0

! 1

! 8

Awards and honours

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3"|AHL

First All-Star Team

| 2009

Eddie Shore Award

| 2009

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3"|NHL

Stanley Cup

| 2011

References

External links

{{Ice hockey stats}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Albany River Rats players

Category:Boston Bruins players

Category:Calgary Hitmen players

Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen

Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian descent

Category:Colorado Avalanche draft picks

Category:Colorado Avalanche players

Category:EC Red Bull Salzburg players

Category:Hershey Bears players

Category:Lake Erie Monsters players

Category:Living people

Category:Lowell Lock Monsters players

Category:Moose Jaw Warriors players

Category:New York Islanders players

Category:Providence Bruins players

Category:Ice hockey people from Edmonton

Category:Stanley Cup champions

Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States

Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen