Former Bruins Islanders' Johnny Boychuk retires due to eye injury suffered last season

[Fenway]

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[McGarnagle]

Still his greatest moment

 

[Fenway]

Trading Boychuk was the dumbest move Chia ever made

 

[BruinsBtn]

Another beauty:

 

[CDJ]

Manchuk


Definition of a warrior. Would kill to have a prime Boychuk on this team.

 

[GlenFeatherstone]

Remember when he sent Van Riemsdyk’s glove 18 rows in? Love Johnny Boychuk. Hope for the best for him going forward in life.

 

[SI90]

I hope isles get on the phone with Bruins ownership and when fans are allowed back in the arenas that when these 2 teams play each other they have a Boychuck appreciation night and send him off the way he deserves. Guy was an absolute warrior for the Bruins and isles. Great teammate as well. This is sad news for a lot of isles fans.

 

[McGarnagle]

Trading Boychuk was the dumbest move Chia ever made

In the big picture, I agree fully. Chia worked himself into a massive cap crunch after selling out for Iginla's bonus-laden contract in 2013-14, but choosing to keep Seidenberg after the ACL tear over Johnny Rocket was pretty much the death of the 2008-2014 core.

However - the saving grace here, the picks we got for him turned out to be Ryan Lindgren and Brandon Carlo.

 

[HustleB]

Do you think the Islanders will be disappointed in the timing of this given that they traded Toews presumably in large part due to cap implications?

I loved Boychuck and thought he was a great Bruin. I questioned the money he was being paid the last few years. Not as bad as Backes, but worse then the Moore contract IMO.

 

[BruinsBtn]

Trading Boychuk was the dumbest move Chia ever made

He also traded for Boychuk, which was one of his best trades. He was a casualty of the Iginla signing and going for it that year. That was the right decision at the time. The 2013-14 team won the President's trophy with 117 points and got absolutely jobbed against the Habs in the 2nd round.

Even if they could have kept him, it would have been only for one more year and he would have walked as a UFA, because they could never have fit him at $6m x7 years.

Chia got two picks for him, which were used on Carlo and Ryan Lindgren. I'd say that's pretty damn good asset management.

You can hate on Chia for a lot of things, but every one of his moves with Boychuck were almost perfect.

 

[Therick67]

Good luck Johnny, thanks for the memories...

 

[bb74]

Boychuck was a great throwback D - hit hard, shoot hard, play hard. Glue guy on the team and you can't say he didn't pay his dues to make it to the big time. Wish him nothing but the best in his next step on the road ahead.

 

[jgatie]

Johnny Boychuk was living proof that you can throw completely legal hits that hurt. You don't need to leave your feet or target the head to light a guy up. Also, he very rarely went for the green light when it would result in his D partner getting the shaft, ala Phaneuf.

 

[Bearclaw]

Man, do I miss Johnny Rocket. The guy was just an absolute beast.

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

Thanks for everything Johnny Rocket!

Love you forever.

 

[dredeye]

He was a beauty to watch

 

[SI90]

Do you think the Islanders will be disappointed in the timing of this given that they traded Toews presumably in large part due to cap implications?

I loved Boychuck and thought he was a great Bruin. I questioned the money he was being paid the last few years. Not as bad as Backes, but worse then the Moore contract IMO.

No, because they still needed the space either way.

 

[Otherworld]

I feel for Johnny Rocket. That was one scary injury. All the best Johnny, you will always be one of my favorite Bruins from the 2011 SC team.

 

[CharaBadSenyshynGawd]

Trading Boychuk was the dumbest move Chia ever made

Boychuk making 6 plus a pop fir 7 years would have made him an instant whipping boy.

f*** did I like him though. Use to love those Jonny Rocket one timers off the boards

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

Not many players were universally loved like Johnny Boychuk was in Boston. Especially for a non-superstar HOF guy.

He was everything a Bruins fan covets. Tough as nails, easy to root for personality, and always played his best hockey when the stakes were high. I think there were still trade proposals with his name in them after our playoffs ended this year.

Hate to see him retire for this. His presence alone on the Isles was enough to make that team one to cheer for.

 

[Bytorbruin]

Man I miss the Bruins when they were big and tough and mean when needed.
Didn't take crap from any team.

We're full of unskilled babies right now....thanks Donny

 

[Bruinaura]

Sad it has to end for him like this.

I didn't realize he was 36! He always seemed younger to me. Not that 36 is old...

At least he won a Cup, and with the right team.

 

[jgatie]

Sad it has to end for him like this.

I didn't realize he was 36! He always seemed younger to me. Not that 36 is old...

At least he won a Cup, and with the right team.

Late bloomer. He didn't become an NHL regular until he was 26.

 

[RustyBruins72]

I had the pleasure of seeing a Johnny Rocket live and in person in Saskatoon.

Phenomenal Bruin.

I remember Lucic saying that when he got traded it killed the MOJO of the team.

 

[Bruinaura]