Former Bruin Johnny Boychuk Placed on IR

Oct 23, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; New York Islanders defenseman

(55) prior to the start of a game against the Boston Bruins at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

“They’ve been on those teams that had lots of experience in the sense that, I know what to expect when you’re down 3-2 in a best-of-seven series. [Players can ask] what were the leaders [like] Jonathan Toews and [Patrice] Bergeron talking about when you were in that situation as a Hawk or a Boston Bruins player? I think that’s where the value is of getting guys that have won.”-Denis Potvin

I’ll be the first person to admit, I’ve been calling the multitude of injuries against the Bruins blueline, the Curse of Johnny Boychuk, stemming from some anger (and admittedly a little bit of rage) from the Bruins trading him away. However, it seems that, despite no longer being affiliated with the Black and Gold, the defensemen has still been bit by the injury bug.

Johnny Boychuk has appeared in 21 of the Islanders games, logging some hefty minutes (25 minutes average per night) and becoming the team’s top scoring defenseman with 14 points on the season. Boychuk hasn’t had an extensive past with injuries, his worst year being the 2011-2012 season where he was sidelined a couple of times for concussion-like symptoms after a Chris Neil hit and then a mild knee sprain sustained from a hit against former Penguin Arron Asham. However, he has been sidelined for three out of the last four games, with a lower body injury presumably a knee injury, caused by a knee-on-knee collision. He went down during the team’s 2-1 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings, when a collision with Kings’ Kyle Clifford knocked Boychuk off his feet. He was clearly favoring his leg as he skated off the ice, but finished out the remainder of the game.

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Today it was announced and reported by Ian McLaren that the defenseman has been placed on Injured Reserve, forcing the Islanders to make some changes. They have called upon Griffin Reinhart from the team’s AHL affiliate to fill in the empty roster spot.

Boychuk and his partner in crime Nick Leddy have been a key factor in the New York Islanders consistency and success this season. Both former Stanley Cup Champions bringing experience that the team has otherwise lacked in recent years. As Hall of Famer Denis Potvin put it;

“They’ve been on those teams that had lots of experience in the sense that, I know what to expect when you’re down 3-2 in a best-of-seven series. [Players can ask] what were the leaders [like] Jonathan Toews and [Patrice] Bergeron talking about when you were in that situation as a Hawk or a Boston Bruins player? I think that’s where the value is of getting guys that have won.”

There is no doubt that the injury to Boychuk stings for the Islanders and Boychuk fans alike and despite him being in Blue and Orange, we still wish him a speedy recovery.