Ahead of Game Five, Former Islander Johnny Boychuk Provided Calming Presence

Jonny Boychuk has not donned a New York Islanders sweater since the 2019-20 season. Now, back with the team in a player development role, his presence on the group, mostly former teammates, has been impactful, especially before Game Five.

Jonny Boychuk has not donned a New York Islanders sweater since the 2019-20 season. Now, back with the team in a player development role, his presence on the group, mostly former teammates, has been impactful, especially before Game Five. 

Unlike former player and current employee Denis Seidenberg, who has been on the ice for seemingly every morning skate this season, Boychuk has joined the team occasionally.

After not taking the ice with the Islanders ahead of any of their first four playoff games, Boychuk did take the ice Tuesday morning.

He was seen talking with many of the guys, with his glowing smile, cracking jokes, keeping the ice rather positive ahead of a potential elimination game for New York.

Compliments were flying when players showed off strong shots, but encouragement when a drill didn't go as planned or an attempt missed the net.

It was like he was just another teammate, another leader on the ice.

Out of the 26 players on the ice, Boychuk played with 17 of them, including both netminders. 

When 23-year-old Noah Dobson broke into the NHL back in 2020, his first defense partner and locker mate was Boychuk, as the grizzled veteran took him under his wing on and off the ice. 

"It's always nice to have him around," Dobson said. "I think a lot of guys are really close to him. They played with him for a long time, and just for the short time I played with him, just having him around, he just has a presence in the room that keeps things light and just makes everyone feel good. 

So it's always nice to have him around."

The Islanders are a veteran group and have been in "win or go home" situations before. 

But that doesn't mean having a friend around, a friend that had been in those situations with this group before doesn't hold value. 

It certainly does. 

"Boychuk was a lot of fun. And he's a high-energy guy," Matt Martin, a four-year teammate of Boychuk, said. "When he played, he was loved in the locker room as a player. It's still kind of the same thing in the role he has now with the organization. So we love having him around, and he's definitely a positive impact on our group."

Boychuk was known as a warrior on the ice and was brought to the organization in the summer of 2014 to help take the Islanders to that next level.

Along with Nick Leddy's acquisition, Boychuk played a vital role in the Islanders getting back into the postseason. That leadership affected the younger players on that current roster, players that are now leaders, like Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, and countless others. 

"Yeah, I think most guys here have played with him or known him. He's been around for a while," six-year teammate Nelson said. "So, a fun guy to have. He's good at keeping the room loose and having fun and bringing it back down, which is nice. So he's a good guy to have around.

"He's not too loud out there. But I mean, in the room, he's around talking to guys, shooting the sh--t. So that's fun for us. So he kind of takes your mind away from it a little bit, but he's also there to remind us of the importance."

The New York Islanders are now 1-0 when Johnny Boychuck joins them on the ice for morning skate ahead of a playoff game.

After staving off elimination, it wouldn't be a shock to see him on the ice Friday morning if the Islanders do skate ahead of Game Six, yet another elimination game.