55 Johnny Boychuk D

Boychuk has recovered from the skate blade he took to his eyelid and will be able to play if and when the season resumes, the Islanders' web site reports.

This news came from general manager Lou Lamoriello on Saturday. Boychuk took 90 stitches to his eyelid when accidentally cut by a skate blade March 3. The swelling had subsided in the eye and there was no permanent vision damage but Boychuk did have to wait for his vision to clear in that eye. That has now happened and Boychuk will return to action when the NHL decides it is safe to resume play.

Boychuk has stated that the vision in his left eye is only about 60 percent, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

That left eye for Boychuk is also still swollen. This news would seem to indicate that the earliest Boychuk might return to the lineup is Sunday in Pittsburgh. Boychuk was extremely lucky not to suffer any damage to his eye when he was cut by a skate blade and took 90 stitches to his eyelid on March 3. On the season, Boychuk has two goals and nine assists while skating to a minus-11 in 64 games.

The Islanders have left it up to Boychuk (eyelid) as to when he will return to action, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Boychuk was cut by a skate blade last Tuesday and took 90 stitches to his eyelid along with needing plastic surgery. Boychuk is back at practice but still has minor vision problems. When those problems clear up, he will return to the Islanders. The next chance for him to play will either be in Calgary on Thursday or Edmonton on Friday.

Boychuk (eye) skated near the end of practice Monday, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Boychuk has missed the last two games after taking a skate to the face against the Canadiens on March 3. He's expected to make his return at some point this week during the Islanders' four-game road trip.

Boychuk (face) is expected to join the Islanders on their upcoming four-game road trip, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Boychuk received 90 stitches to his eyelid after getting cut with a skate blade last week. The Islanders are floundering right now and have lost six straight games, and Boychuk may not be the cure, his presence should help.

Boychuk will be sidelined indefinitely after receiving 90 stitches to fix his damaged eyelid.

The good news is Boychuk's eyeball wasn't impacted when he took a skate to the face during Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Montreal, but the veteran blueliner is unsurprisingly still facing an extended absence. With Boychuk unavailable for the foreseeable future, Noah Dobson will be tasked with taking on an every night role for the Islanders down the stretch.

Boychuk looks like he has escaped a serious injury despite taking a skate blade to the face during the Islanders' 6-2 loss to the Canadiens on Tuesday, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Boychuk now joins Cal Clutterbuck (wrist) and Casey Cizikas (leg) as the third Islander this season to miss time due to being cut by the skate blade of an opposing player. Apparently Boychuk was cut on his eyelid and eyebrow but suffered no damage to his vision. The Islanders are unsure how long Boychuk will be out of the lineup, but he would seem to be questionable at best to play Thursday in Ottawa.

Boychuk is being evaluated after taking a skate to the face during Tuesday's game against Montreal.

Boychuk took an inadvertent skate to the face from Montreal's Artturi Lehkonen in the second period and got off the ice in a panic. It's unclear how serious the injury is, but the skate appeared to catch Boychuk near his left eye. The defenseman should be considered day-to-day ahead of Thursday's clash with Ottawa, and if Boychuk should miss time, Noah Dobson will likely draw into the lineup.

Boychuk finished with a team-worst minus-4 rating in Thursday's 5-0 loss to Nashville.

The Islanders' defenseman has one point in his last 21 games and is a minus-12 over that span. Boychuk, 36, has failed to reach 20 points in each of his last two seasons. With 11 points in 55 games this season, it seems like the aging blueliner is headed towards his third consecutive season with fewer than 20 scoresheet scribbles.

Boychuk hasn't registered a point in his last 14 games.

On the season, Boychuk only has two goals, eight assists, with a rating of minus-2 in 48 games. The biggest value that Boychuk provides is his ability to mentor younger defenders, including Noah Dobson, his usual defensive partner. It was thought that Boychuk would get regular rest this season, but the season-ending injury to Adam Pelech (Achilles) has forced Boychuk to play more than expected.

Boychuk has been paired with rookie Noah Dobson since the injury to Adam Pelech (Achilles), Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.

Boychuk has played most of the season with his usual defensive partner, Nick Leddy. With Pelech out until May, however, coach Barry Trotz has been tinkering with his defensive pairings. Those pairing could change Thursday, as the team will practice for the first time that day since Pelech went down. Boychuk has two goals, eight assists, and a rating of zero in 41 games this season. At this point in his career, Boychuk's biggest value to the Isles is as a veteran leader.

Boychuk has gone scoreless in six straight games for the Islanders.

Boychuk is not expected to help the team offensively in a big way as he hasn't reached the 20 point plateau since the 2016-17 season. What Boychuk is expected to do is become a mentor to the Islander's young defensive corps. Boychuk helped to bring along Ryan Pulock and the team is hoping he can do the same with top prospect Noah Dobson. Boychuk has played 40 games this season and it's worth noting that with Adam Pelech (Achilles) likely out for the remainder of the season, he won't be rested as much as the team would like. Boychuk will turn 36 years of age in less than two weeks and it's fair to wonder if his play will deteriorate as the long NHL season progresses.

Boychuk scored a goal and an assist in Thursday's win over Boston.

Boychuk's goal ended a 28-game goal drought and a 20-game pointless streak. While not exactly an offensive powerhouse -- he hasn't topped the 20-point mark since 2016-17 -- fantasy owners were no doubt hoping he would get back on the scoresheet soon. With his slump behind him, the Edmonton native will hopefully start producing with a little more consistency.

Boychuk hasn't registered a point for the Islanders in his last 14 games.

On the season, Boychuk has one goal, six assists, and a plus-2 rating in 25 games. Boychuk only had 18 points in 58 games during the 2017-18 season and 19 points in 74 games last year. At 35 years of age, his best seasons are certainly behind him, and it's fair to wonder if Boychuk will sit more often for the younger and faster Noah Dobson as the season unfolds.

Boychuk hasn't registered a point and only has three shots on net in his last four games.

On the season, Boychuk has one goal, six assists and a plus-3 rating in 15 games. He's an aging stay-at-home defender tasked with clearing the front of the net so that either Semyon Varlamov or Thomas Greiss can see the puck clearly, so anything he adds offensively is essentially a bonus at this point.

Boychuk picked up an assist against the Flyers on Sunday, bringing his point streak to three games.

Boychuk hasn't scored a goal in his last seven appearances, despite putting 13 shots on net, but has racked up five helpers over that stretch. The blueliner is averaging just 18:30 of ice time on the year, little of which comes with the man advantage. At this point, the Edmonton native is on pace to top the 30-point mark for just the second time in his 13-year NHL career.

Boychuk scored a power-play goal on three shots and added three blocked shots in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Hurricanes.

Entering the lineup for Nick Leddy (undisclosed), Boychuk was able to make an impact with an equalizing goal in the second period. That would be all the Islanders could put behind Petr Mrazek, however. Boychuk's goal was his first point of the year to go with eight hits and six blocked shots in three appearances. He'll likely cycle out of the lineup when Leddy is able to go again.

Boychuk could lose ice time as Noah Dobson continues to develop and grow at the NHL level, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.

It was expected that Boychuk would be the odd man out to start the season for the Islanders on defense, but a late injury to Dobson has allowed the veteran defender to play in the first two games. Dobson is healthy now, and it should only be a matter of time until he gets the nod over Boychuk.bThe Islanders would love to trade Boychuk to a defensively challenged team, but with three years left on his deal at $6 million per season, that will be easier said than done.

Boychuk (foot) feels completely healthy going into camp, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Boychuk missed the Islanders' last playoff series after blocking a shot with his foot in the first round, but Gross reports that Boychuk required a few treatments and physical therapy sessions but then managed to go through his usual summer workout routine. New York will be happy to have the oft-injured 35-year-old at full health to open the season.

Boychuk clarified that it was a broken foot that kept him out of the lineup during the second round, Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post reports.

Boychuk told reporters he was hopeful he could play in Game 6, but unfortunately saw his club swept from the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The blueliner played in 70-plus games for the first time since 2015-16, but still failed to reach the 20-point mark, falling just one point shy. If he can stay healthy, the Edmonton native should push for that mark next season.