Reports from Thursday night said that New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk left the game versus the Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury and he didn't return. On Friday morning, the team placed the rugged defender on the Injured Reserve and recalled defenseman Adam Pelech to take his place this weekend.
The injury is believed to be a shoulder problem and the team won't have a timetable for his return, until he sees doctors about the injury and they relay the news to the team. What we know for sure is that the placement on the IR will keep him out at least a week, but it sounds like we should be expecting a longer-term injury.
The 31-year old defender wasn't having quite the season he had in 2015, where he broke out with 35 points on the year, but he wasn't doing too bad either. Boychuk is currently ranked 266th overall in pool scoring with 3 goals and 14 points in 38 games this season, which isn't all bad, but could be a touch better.
Boychuk was taken by Derek W. this season in the 8th round, well outside of the race to finish up the blueline, but his draft position was 200th overall, so he isn't working out to be much of a bargain pick this year. Unfortunately, that ranking will only dip with this injury news.
Derek should still consider his team in the race in the standings, as they start the New Year in 12th spot, now 25 points out of 3rd spot. Still lots of time to make up that gap and it would only take a few good weeks to do it, maybe only a couple. Besides Boychuk, his team is fairly healthy, so it just needs to get on a run.
Click here for the updated injury/news page on the website
No comments:
Post a Comment