Boston Bruins: Defenseman Johnny Boychuk Might end up a Casualty

#492463271 / gettyimages.com

The Boston Bruins have a salary cap mess, this is well documented. As a result of their current salary cap debacle, it looks like defenseman Johnny Boychuk will end up being a causality and the odd man out. It's a shame, because Boychuk is a solid defenseman.  Obviously, Bruins fans aren't going to be very happy about this. Boychuk is one of the Bruins more popular players.

Fluto Shinzawa, Boston Globe -- The Bruins have three preseason games to determine their roster for the Oct. 8 season opener against Philadelphia. Jobs are up for grabs on the third and fourth lines. But re-signing Krug and Smith gives the Bruins a clearer snapshot of how they’ll break camp, both in terms of dollars and roster strength.

They will still move a defenseman, most likely for futures. But once they account for the bonus overage and Marc Savard’s long-term injury exception, they will not have to move big bucks — namely Johnny Boychuk’s $3,366,667 — to get the league’s green light. This is a good thing. After this season, Boychuk will command an annual salary north of $6 million. This is not money the Bruins are in good position to spend.

But trading Boychuk would not improve the team. He is an experienced and dependable second-pairing defenseman. Because of the pot that awaits, Boychuk will be motivated to play well. The Bruins will benefit from that.

Bruins fans should enjoy Boychuk's last season with the Bruins.

(Video) Taylor Pyatt boards Johnny Boychuck

New York Rangers forward Taylor Pyatt was giving a two minute minor for boarding for this hit on Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuck. This hit ramped the game up for both teams. It's interesting to see how some classify the hit.

Pyatt hip checks Boychuk's head into the boards at 2:22 of the scoreless second period. Boychuk down on ice for a while.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) May 17, 2013

Johnny Boychuk resigns with Bruins

Bruins fans got some very good news today. Free agent defenseman Johnny Boychuck is back in the fold for another two season with the Boston Bruins.

CSNNE.com CSNNE.com has confirmed that the Bruins have signed 26-year-old defenseman Johnny Boychuk, who would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, to a two-year deal. The agreement was first reported by New England Hockey Journal.

According to sources that spoke with CSNNE.com, the deal is for $3.75 million (with Boychuk set to make $1.75 million next season and $2 million in 2011-12) and doesn't have any no-trade provisions within the deal. The cap hit for Boychuk over the term of the two-year deal is for $1.875 million and keeps the physical, easy-going blueliner in the Boston fold for another two seasons.

The defenseman won a starting job with the Bruins over the second half of the regular season, and deftly stepped into the No. 2 defenseman role alongside Zdeno Chara once Dennis Seidenberg went down with a forearm injury. Boychuk averaged over 26 minutes of ice time during the 13 games he played during the playoffs, led the Bruins with 39 blocked shots and authored the "statement hit" of the postseason for the B's when he decked Buffalo Sabres forward Matt Ellis during Game 3 of the opening round.