Sunsetting Careers – Johnny Boychuk Hockey Cards – It’s never easy to walk away from the sport you love, but it’s even tougher when you’re forced out due to injury. Such was the case Wednesday when the New York Islanders announced that Johnny Boychuk’s career was over.
The announcement was made public over Twitter. “After numerous and extensive medical exams, New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk’s career has come to an end, due to an eye injury suffered during the 2019-20 regular season,” the team stated from their official Twitter account.
Boychuk’s pro career began with the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted the Edmonton, Alberta native 61st overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. His ice time in the NHL got off to a rocky start, as he toiled in the AHL for an extended period, only getting into four games with the Avs.
In 2008, however, Boychuk’s hockey life changed when he was traded to the Boston Bruins during Draft Weekend. Boychuk got into one game of NHL action with the black and gold in 2008-09, but had an incredible campaign with Providence of the AHL, winning the Eddie Shore Award as the league’s best defenceman. One year later, Boychuk played the final two games of his career in the minors as he transitioned into a fulltime role with the Bruins.
By this time, the Bruins were Stanley Cup contenders and the rising star was an integral part of the team’s run to the Cup in 2010-11. Boychuk contributed nine points in 25 post-season games and held aloft Lord Stanley’s Mug in a spectacular moment. Boychuk went on to play for the Bruins for three more years.
In 2014, with Boston feeling the salary cap pinch, Boychuk was dealt to the New York Islanders in exchange for a couple draft picks. He spent six seasons on Long Island, putting up respectable point totals alongside four seasons of plus/minus in the black.
The Islanders, who now are considered to be Cup contenders, will have trouble replacing Boychuk’s presence and his passion for the game will be sorely missed.
Collectors can look back fondly on Johnny Boychuk’s career through a variety of cards – roughly 200 total. With three sets in the books for the 2020-21 season and no cards yet, it remains to be seen whether Boychuk will have any cardboard this season, or if his last appearances in products will be his 2019-20 cards, including pieces in MVP and O-Pee-Chee
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