Johnny Boychuk Returns to Boston

One of my favorite former Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk makes his return to Boston. Boychuk is now a teammate of former Fighting Sioux defenseman Brock Nelson. Boychuk is famously known for his deadly, heavy, accurate slap shot, which is known as a Johnny Rocket.

Joe Haggerty, CSNNE.COM – Johnny Boychuk texted every member of the Bruins team after learning he’d been traded to the New York Islanders. It was the affable B’s defenseman’s way of saying goodbye to his teammates knowing they’d be hopping on the runaway train known as the NHL regular season and Boychuk would be spending the next day packing his equipment and heading to Long Island.

It’s not at all surprising to know that the goodbye texts were about having a few last laughs, still friends but no longer teammates. Some of his old B’s teammates were thinking about those conversations on Wednesday as they ready to host Boychuk and his new-look Islanders on Thursday night at TD Garden.

"He actually texted me after the trade and told me I should give him a goal,” said a smirking Tuukka Rask, who needed a few moments to realize the media was talking about Boychuk rather than Chad Johnson when asked about facing “Johnny” on Thursday. “If its 9-1 or something for us...accidents happen. What can I tell you?

Related articles

• "Johnny Rocket" Is Helping Isles Take Flight

Islanders Shore Up Their Back End: Trade for Boychuk and Leddy

#ISLES TRANSACTION: Team has acquired Nick Leddy from Chicago and Johnny Boychuk from Boston. Details to follow. pic.twitter.com/TnXRHYxG7r
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 4, 2014

#Isles bolster blueline by acquiring Johnny Boychuk (http://t.co/vhSAfl7jib) & Nick Leddy (http://t.co/FyitsGnvv3) pic.twitter.com/G42E2yWxMB
— Shnarped Hockey (@shnarped) October 4, 2014

Former UND forward Brock Nelson got two new teammates today. The New York Islander turned some heads trading for former Minnesota Golden Gopher and Blackhawks defenseman Nick Leddy and former Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk.

It's really a boost for the Islanders defense core. Picking up Boychuk and Leddy, the Islanders get two defensive players that have won Stanley Cups.

With the trade, the Bruins get a 2nd round draft choice in 2015, 2nd draft choice in 2016 and a conditional third round draft choice in 2015.

The @NHLBruins traded one of the team's most popular defensemen. The return isn't so great. http://t.co/q8zd8kPb3U pic.twitter.com/RFW2lYM44g
— BostInno (@BostInno) October 4, 2014

Boston has traded Johnny Boychuk to the Islanders in exchange for two 2nd round picks & a conditional 3rd round pick: http://t.co/e160KN74m0
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 4, 2014

PRESS RELEASE: #Isles Officially Acquire Johnny Boychuk from the #NHLBruins - http://t.co/jb4J9RkFQB pic.twitter.com/R4hYoNxo7S
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 4, 2014

Give a follow to one of the newest members of the #Isles, @ledpipe08
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 4, 2014

Not an easy meeting with Boychuk. Chiarelli: "he was upset, I was upset, I'm still upset" ^CS
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 4, 2014

Boston Bruins: Johnny Boychuk Celly (GIF)

This is a sweet Celly by Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk... Guns up... No wait, that's Texas Tech.

T.J. Oshie hit on Torey Krug

Well former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie was engaged tonight. I wish the refs would have let Johnny Boychuk and Oshie fight first. Osh had his glove off.

The box score reads.
17:59 BOS Johnny Boychuk Roughing - 2 min against T.J. Oshie
17:59 BOS Johnny Boychuk served by Shawn Thornton Roughing - 2 min against T.J. Oshie
17:59 STL T.J. Oshie Roughing - 2 min against Johnny Boychuk

Max Pacioretty boards Johnny Boychuk (Video)

Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty was given a two-minute minor penalty for this dangerous, but not really malicious hit, against Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk. I do not like this hit. I also think that Pacioretty should have been given more than a two-minute minor penalty. Not dirty, but it was worthy of a five-minute major. Boychuk was taken by ambulance to a Montreal hospital.

Steve Rosenbloom on the Boychuk hit

All right! Interesting perspective, no mystery that the NHL isn’t consistent in their call of the head shots, it’s well documented. Here’s my question; why is it, that players like Dustin Brown of the L.A. Kings has been able to get away with many of the same kind of hits for so long? Most of them have been deemed hockey hits, just like the hit that Brown put on Toews in the Western Conference Finals.

Steve Rosenbloom, The RosenBlog – Boston defenseman Johnny Boychuk went after Jonathan Toews' head with his forearm in the second period of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night. Toews didn’t play a shift in the third period. Game over. Game 6 over for Boychuk.

Just as a penalty in the first period is supposed to be a penalty in the third period, then a head-hunting move in Game 5 of the final ought to warrant a suspension the way it does in Game 1 of the regular season.

It wouldn't matter if it was Viktor Stalberg instead of Toews, but I'd bet if it was done to Sidney Crosby, then Boychuk would've been suspended between periods.

The product the NHL is selling is not Boychuk’s act. It is selling exceptionally skilled players. It is selling stars such as Toews and Crosby.

Like Crosby, Toews is part of the Hart Trophy conversation. At least he is when Eastern writers stay up late to watch.

Also like Crosby, Toews is a repeated concussion victim whose head is targeted continually.

The league cannot afford these kinds of acts. The Hawks certainly can’t.

I have always said, “that the NHL has two sets of rules. One for goon’s and fourth line players and one for super stars.” I don't know why the NHL didn't take action against Boychuk or why they pick and choose which hits to discipline. I don’t know how anyone can make rhyme or reason out of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety’s rulings anymore. They're allover the place.

I like everyone else is confused, as a Bruins fan, I guess I am kind of relieved that Boychuk can play, but know he may have gotten away with one, but so have a lot of other players, as well. It sounds like both Toews and Bergy are going to play in game six tonight.

Johnny Boychuk and Sidney Crosby picture

Anyone have a caption for this one?

(Video) Bruins Merlot line lead B's to a 3-0 Series lead

The Boston Bruins have pushed the New York Rangers to the brink of elimination, with a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers, Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Bruins erased a 1-0 Rangers lead in the third period with goals from Johnny Boychuk and Daniel Paille.

I don’t know how you could describe Paille’s miraculous goal, the goal came off a goofy rebound that should have found its way into the net, but had eyes. Seriously, you have to see this goal to believe it. The puck that was shot by Gregory Campbell looked like it came off the face of a sand wedge and had some serious back-spin on it. If I was going to describe it, the puck’s movement looked more like Titleist Pro V1 golf than a hockey puck. The puck was going towards the goal line – hit the goal line and spun back like it was hit by Tiger Woods. The puck never broke the plane until Paille put the puck past Henrik Lundqvist on the rebound, for the game winning goal.

I know some people are sick of hearing about the fourth line, but you can see that the Merlot line had the majority of the points for the Boston Bruins tonight, Shawn Thornton (0g-2a—2pts), Gregory Campbell (0g-1a—1pts), Daniel Paille (1g-1a—2pts). Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk also got his fourth goal of the playoffs tonight as well.

New Drinking game. Everytime Pierre McGuire mentions the Bruins fourth line drink a beer, you will not be sober by the end of the game.
— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) May 22, 2013

A Tired Johnny Boychuk

All I can think of is Ace Ventura slamming his face into the bench #Bruins twitpic.com/cr2x81
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) May 17, 2013

s/t @cjzero Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk took a beating during game one.

Max Pacioretty or was it David Desharnais' goal against Boston

Boston Bruins versus the Montreal Canadians... At first, it appeared that the puck had gone off of Max Pacioretty's stick, but after further review it was obvious that it went off of Johnny Boychuk's stick and the goal was awarded to David Desharnais.

Montreal goal listed as to Max Pacioretty, but thatll be changed to David Desharnais off Johnny Boychuk's stick en route to net. Habs up 2-1
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) March 4, 2013

Malkin not disciplined

Another questionable hit on a Boston Bruins by a Pittsburgh Penguin and another Penguin escapes punishment by the NHL. So basically, don't expect a player to get suspended if they hit a Boston Bruin with a questionable hit.

I could see how Boston Bruins fans might question the NHL and their judgement. Also, I think that Brendan Shanahan is basically a fraud and no better than Colin Campbell, there are one set of rules for star players and there is another set of rules for tough guys and goons. One could also make the argument that, if Milan Lucic or Brad Marchand had hit Malkin or Sidney Crosby with a hit like this, they would've been suspended or at least fined by the NHL. 

Mike Cole, NESN --- The Bruins have been the victim of some suspect hits over the years in Pittsburgh, and once again, the league has allowed the Penguins to skate without punishment.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the league will not discipline Pens star Evgeni Malkin for his hit on Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk which came in the third period of the Penguins' 5-2 win over Boston on Sunday.

While the hit was not nearly as bad as the hit Matt Cooke leveled Bruins center Marc Savard with two years ago, there were some that thought Malkin would be looking at least a fine.

Related articles

• Malkin hit on Boychuck (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Malkin hit on Boychuck

The powers that be in the NHL gives us lip service on how they want to take these types of dirty and unnecesarry hits out of the game of hockey.

In fact the powers that be want to take these types of hits out of all levels of hockey, but then the officials let a super star player off of the hook by only giving them a two minute minor.

I guess it's okay to make these types of dirty and dangerous hits that if your star player like Evgeni Malkin. It would appear that you're not going to the get the five minute major and the game misconduct, if you're a star player like Malkin.

After the game, the head coach of the Boston Bruins Claude Julien didn't seem to like the Malkin hit on defenseman Johnny Boychuk.

"My opinion doesn't matter," Julien said. "We'll have to wait to see what happens from that. But it was Malkin that hit, right? It wasn't [Matt] Cooke? It was Malkin. We'll see. The league will have to look at it. It was a hit from behind. They're the ones who make those decisions. We don't like those hits.

"My job is tough enough as it is. I don't want to do his, because his job is pretty tough as well," Julien added of NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan. "I'm talking about Shanny. So we'll let Shanny do his job and I'll do mine and we'll just move on. You've just got to look at it that way. For different reasons they make their assessments and they decide. So we as coaches have to do our jobs and work with the guys we have." [NESN.COM]

More fuel for the fire is, why was Johnny Boychuk allowed to return to the game after he just got hit with a questionable check and it looked as if he was dazed after the hit. Boychuk had just returned to the Boston Bruins line up after being out a two games with a concussion. 

Zdeno Chara vs. Chris Neil

This fight was a direct result of Chris Neils hit on the Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk earlier in the game. From reviewing the video, I think the play was a "borderline" charging call. [click to view video of hit].

It was not a good day for Boston Bruins defensemen as Johnny Boychuk and Joe Corvo were both left the game and didn't return.

Both Boychuk and Corvo made the bus and were on the flight’s manifest. Julien figures both will be OK. Boychuck, he said, got caught with his head down, and was held out for the rest of the game per standard protocol. [Boston Globe]

Canucks' Raymond 'will never be the same'

Here is a follow up on former on former UMD Bulldog Mason Raymond, sounds like he had a very long painful struggle to get back to the NHL. This story was in today's Vancouver Sun, the video of the hit in question is included above.

Vancouver Sun --- Run into the boards by Boston Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk, who held down Raymond’s head as he rammed the Canuck backwards, Raymond suffered not only a fractured spine but damaged nerves and tissue.

“It’s a serious injury that’s going to take some time,” he said. “Things have changed back there. It will never be the same. I’m not going to get into specifics, but I had some serious damage back there. I’ve got issues back there. I’ve got to deal with them all the time. That’s part of life. Is it going to be perfect? Probably not. But I’m at a stage where it’s very good and I continue to work and do things that are going to make me feel I’m in a good spot.”

Raymond spent most of last summer in a back brace and when training camp began in September the 26-year-old from Cochrane, Alta., was still unsure if he’d play again in the National Hockey League. Sometime in the fall, he crossed the threshold between “if” and “when” and three weeks ago he began practicing with teammates.

Related articles

• Canucks' Mason Raymond 'ready to roll' (vancouversun.com)
• Canucks' Mason Raymond nearing return from Cup final-ending back injury (vancouversun.com)
• Canucks' Mason Raymond not sure he'll play again, still out indefinitely with broken back (vancouversun.com)
• Canucks' Mason Raymond 'excited' about impending return from Cup final-ending back injury (vancouversun.com)
• Canucks welcome Raymond back to practice (tsn.ca)

Bruins sign Canadians stiff Benoit Pouliot

The Boston Globe is reporting this signing by the Boston Bruins. This is the waste of a one year contract and I do not like this pick up by the Boston Bruins one bit. So in essence the Boston Bruins are trading Michael Ryder's roster spot (who signed a free agent deal with the Dallas Stars) for Benoit Pouliot... This deal is a serious head scratcher and I am disappointed with the Boston Bruins front office. It has pretty much been proven that Benoit Pouliot for the most part has been another Minnesota Wild first round bust from the Doug Risebrough days.

Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff --- Bruins sign Benoit Pouliot The Bruins have signed Benoit Pouliot to a one-year, $1.1 million contract. RDS was among the first to report the signing.

The 24-year-old was the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft. Minnesota traded Pouliot to Montreal for Guillaume Latendresse on Nov. 23, 2009.

This past season, Pouliot scored 13 goals and 17 assists in 79 games. Pouliot was a healthy scratch for four games in the first round against the Bruins.

The 2005 draft included Sidney Crosby, Carey Price, Bobby Ryan, Jack Johnson, Marc Staal, Anze Kopitar, Paul Stastny, and Keith Yandle. Framed against those players, Pouliot has been a major disappointment. In 183 games, Pouliot has scored 37 goals and 35 assists. The left-shot forward will be a reclamation project for the Bruins, who like his size (6-foot-3, 199 pounds) and skill.

In Boston, Pouliot is best known for one-punching David Krejci during the regular season. In the playoffs, Pouliot took a run at Johnny Boychuk, which brought Andrew Ference calling.

No suspension for Johnny Boychuk for his hit on Mason Raymond

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeFirst off; Vancouver Canucks forward Mason Raymond it out for 3-4 months after suffering a compression fracture on his vertebrae as the result of a Johnny Boychuk hit during the first period of last night's game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Second; I would like to wish Mason Raymond a speedy recovery and that he will be able to make a return to play hockey next fall.

James Mirtle; Globe and Mail --- The Vancouver Canucks are down another body, but their opponents in the Stanley Cup final won't be for Wednesday's Game 7.

The NHL's acting disciplinarian, Mike Murphy, confirmed Tuesday that Boston Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk will not be suspended for his hit on Canucks winger Mason Raymond in the opening seconds of Monday's Game 6.

According to Canucks GM Mike Gillis, Raymond “sustained a vertebrae compression fracture” on the play and is expected to miss three to four months.

Murphy said via email that the league's hockey operations department reviewed the play but deemed it an "awkward collision" and not worthy of a suspension.

"[It was an] awkward collusion between two players battling for space/room," Murphy wrote. "[You] rarely see a player bumped when in the position Raymond was in (bent over forward)."

Asked about the review process, Murphy said the league reviews "all plays, especially when there is an injury."

There has been some discussion in another post on whether Boychuk should have been suspended for his hit on Mason Raymond. I just don't know? I am glad that I don't have to make that decision on whether a suspension is warranted or not.  I don't think it was a malicious hit with an intent to injure and it appeared to me that Boychuk was just riding Raymond off of the puck.

Related articles

• Mason Raymond will miss Game 7, could be out several months with fractured vertebra (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Canucks forward Mason Raymond out at least 3 months (ctv.ca)
• Bruins Vs. Canucks, Game 6: Mason Raymond Injury Follows Johnny Boychuk Hit Early In First Period (sbnation.com)
• Mason Raymond Injury Could Reportedly Sideline Canucks Forward Several Months (sbnation.com)

Johnny Boychuk Hit On Mason Raymond - Bruins force game 7

First off, I hope that former UMD Bulldog Mason Raymond is okay. Raymond was transported to the hospital after being on the recieving end of a rough, hard, Johnny Boychuk check.

The Boston Bruins have evened their series with the Vancouver Canucks, winning by a score of 5-2 victory tonight in Boston. The Boston Bruins outscored the Vancouver Canucks 17-3 in three games in the TD North Garden. On the flip side, the Canucks won all three games in Vancouver 1-0, 3-2 and 1-0... That being said, the Vancouver Canucks have only lead for 32.32 through 6 games during the Stanley Cup Finals. The Bruins also scored two more power play goals tonight.

The Boston Bruins won tonight for just third time in 20 games when facing playoff elimination in a Game 6 while improving to 4-10 in finals elimination games. Ironically the Bruins have won two game sevens in this years Stanley Cup Playoffs. No team has ever won three game sevens in the same Stanley Cup playoffs... 

Related articles

• Bruins Vs. Canucks, Game 6: Mason Raymond Injury Follows Johnny Boychuk Hit Early In First Period (sbnation.com)
• VIDEO: Mason Raymond Injury Suffered On Awkward Hit In Canucks-Bruins Game 6 (sbnation.com)
• 2011 Stanley Cup Finals: Canucks Forward Mason Raymond Injured on Opening Shift (bleacherreport.com)

Steven Stamkos takes a slap shot in the face.

This is what happened when Steven Stamkos got in the way of a slap shot off of the stick Boston Bruins Defenseman Johnny Boychuk... All I can say is ouch!!! I think Stamkos is probably very lucky that he was wearing a half shield. Some might say that this is enough reason to make the half shield mandatory.  Oh yeah and Stamkos put on a full bird cage and returned to the game.

Bruins defense coughs up a fur ball…

Well that was nice! The Boston Bruins blew an opportunity to send the Tampa Bay Lightning to the golf course for the summer and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals to take on the unlikeable Vancouver Canucks. I have have two word for the Bruins defense tonight "absolutely atrocious" add to that,  their penalty killers were equally "absolutely atrocious," these were the same penalty killers who had killed 16/18 Tampa Bay Lightning power plays in the first five games of the series. Tonight the penalty killers was way more generous giving up three power play goals on four power play opportunities.

Bruins second year defenseman Johnny Boychuk was also brutal tonight and worthy of sitting in the press box for game seven as he was on the ice for all five of Tampa Bay’s goals. I am not sure why Claude Julie kept coming back with the young defenseman, an example of his work can be seen in the video above.

The usually  steady Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was horrible tonight barely stopping 80 percent of the shots he faced. Thomas finished the night giving up 5 goals on 26 shots (21/26), no very Vezina Trophy like tonight. Not to be out down the aging Dwayne Roloson was equally unimpressive giving up 4 goals on 20 shots (16/20).

Steve Downie nails Johnny Boychuk into the end boards.

This was the hit that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steve Downie put on Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk; if you're expecting supplemental discipline from the NHL, don't. According to TSN hockey analyst Bob McKenzie Steve Downie's hit on Johnny Boychuk is NOT being pursued for supplementary discipline by the NHL. Personally, while I am not a fan of Downie or of the style of hockey he plays, I don't think that check warranted anymore than a two minute penalty.