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

[Ratty]

Will miss Johnny B. But Lamoriello must have mixed feelings. He now has enough space for his coulda-been-a-Bruin center.

 

[Gator Mike]

 

[JOKER 192]

You only get one set of eyes. With 20% going to escrow and owners looking to increase that. Another 10% deferred . Then pro rate to a shortened season. Agent grabs his share, all of that before the government gets his cut. I think I would have made the same choice. Good luck JB and thanks.

 

[aguineapig]

Johnny did it the old fashioned way. He earned it. They said he had a great shot, but skating and decision making were suspect. So he put his head down and worked on his game and rode the buses for five years. Many a man would have packed it in, but when he got his break he was ready. He and his shot were a blast to watch. He'd block a shot, play the man or pick a fight, anything to help his team win. He was a true Bruin. He was a Stanley Cup champ. He'll always be Johnny Rocket.

 

[Terrier]

Sorry to hear the news, but thanks to Johnny for helping bring the Cup back to Boston.

 

[Troublesome 85]

Team could use a Boychuk or 2 right now

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Much as we might decry the softening of hockey in recent years, as long as it remains the only sport where you can basically be stabbed in the face on any given night it will always be for proper tough folks only. That was a nasty injury Johnny suffered back in March.

All the best Johnny Rocket in your retirement and whatever life next has in store. Shame it's arrived a little early, but thanks for being a wonderful player, a proper Bruin, a worthy Cup winner, and for all those masterful hip checks! Hit hard, shoot hard, play hard.

 

[BMC]

I loved Johnny Rocket and I am so sad his career ended this way.
#55 was the quintessential Bruin: big and bad

I will hate that trade until I die

 

[HooperDrivesTheBoat]

One of my favorite Bruins. All heart. The Islanders fans love him as well. Just of those guys that makes an impact wherever he goes. And one of the great hockey names. Enjoy a well-deserved retirement, Johnny.

 

[HooperDrivesTheBoat]

I loved Johnny Rocket and I am so sad his career ended his way.

#55 was the quintessential Bruin: big and bad

I will hate that trade until I die

Agree 100%. I remember the timing being awful, as well.

 

[BruinDust]

Loves me some Johnny Rocket. Exciting player to watch in his prime. Could hammer pucks and hammer players and did it all with a bit of his own brand of swagger. Never understood why he didn't get more PP time under Julien (same with Marchand).

One of the best Bruin trades of the 2000s is the one that brought Boychuk to Boston.

 

[Bruinaura]

We need one of those "big sad puppy dog eyes" emojis

 

[Mione134]

We need one of those "big sad puppy dog eyes" emojis

How about a gif instead.


Love Manchuck. Always! Hate his career had to end like this. Thank you for everything, especially the Cup!

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Loves me some Johnny Rocket. Exciting player to watch in his prime. Could hammer pucks and hammer players and did it all with a bit of his own brand of swagger. Never understood why he didn't get more PP time under Julien (same with Marchand).

One of the best Bruin trades of the 2000s is the one that brought Boychuk to Boston.

wasn’t it straight up for Matt Hendricks?

 

[caz16]

I love Johnny too, the quintessential Bruins defenseman who had the heart of a lion. I was crushed when he was traded and remember him saying something like "Oh my God, it is really happening...." because the rumours had been out there.

I am happy that he earned a Cup, many never get there. That 2011 team was my favourite and still is. Good luck Johnny!! He will do well wherever he ends up.

 

[Scruffy]

wasn’t it straight up for Matt Hendricks?

Yep

On June 24, 2008, Boychuk was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Matt Hendricks.

 

[Aeroforce]

Great tribute dafoomie just posted:

 

[sarge88]

Definite throwback type of player —even in 2011.

Congratulations on a great career!

 

[TCB]

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

Watching Boychuk highlights brought back some great memories of the bruins, and your right, the team as constructed today compared to those days is sad to see. This current team wouldnt win a game in a seven game series.

One of the smartest things Edwards ever said.
"There's no Boy in Boychuk !!!

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

Like boychuck as a player

Hate shady cap moves

After getting his signing bonus this year he has a little over 5 mill owed to him the next 2 years

Likely 1/2 that or more is going to be lost to various covid problems

If the islanders give him a comfy front office job he might get all that money back anyhow

Its another huge front loaded deal that miraculously disapears when the team finds it inconvienent

I cant lay the blame on the players involved but lamerello is famous for juicing the cap in toronto and now this?

I hope ladd didnt catch hossa's glove/skin rash problem but somethings tells me i think we will learn he did

 

[Kalus]

Like boychuck as a player

Hate shady cap moves

After getting his signing bonus this year he has a little over 5 mill owed to him the next 2 years

Likely 1/2 that or more is going to be lost to various covid problems

If the islanders give him a comfy front office job he might get all that money back anyhow

Its another huge front loaded deal that miraculously disapears when the team finds it inconvienent

I cant lay the blame on the players involved but lamerello is famous for juicing the cap in toronto and now this?

I hope ladd didnt catch hossa's glove/skin rash problem but somethings tells me i think we will learn he did

I am not a tin foil hat guy, but I do think Lou was AOK with this news.

 

[HumBucker]

All the best in your retirement Johnny. Thanks for bringing the Cup back to Boston!

 

[Lobster57]

this is maybe my favourite Destroychuk moment. B's are kicking the shit out of the Penguins in game 2 of the 2013 ECF, its 5-1 and the 3 clowns in the NBC booth are trying to figure out who the Pens start in net for game 3. Pierre is like "Marc-Andre Fleury, no doubt ab..."

Johnny Rocket. 6-1

 

[Dicky113]

You only get one set of eyes. With 20% going to escrow and owners looking to increase that. Another 10% deferred . Then pro rate to a shortened season. Agent grabs his share, all of that before the government gets his cut. I think I would have made the same choice. Good luck JB and thanks.

He still gets the money. He just isn’t going to play

 

[DKH]

got to Love Johnny Boychuk

excellent article here in today’s Globe Thanksgiving Bruins musings in just how good Boychuk was defensively- sometimes I get caught up in the character of Johnny Rocket and forget what a throwback he is

hope you can read this (an aside ~ Matt Porter is spectacular one of the reasons I keep getting paper and digital copies of Globe - some are assigned to cover the Bruins this guy is elite in his knowledge)

Thoughts on the retirement of Johnny Boychuk and other hockey matters - The Boston Globe