Islanders' Boychuk ends career due to eye injury

New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk's career is over as a result of an eye injury he suffered during the 2019-20 season, the club announced Wednesday.

The injury was his second to the same eye.

A skate clipped the veteran blue-liner's face during a game in March, requiring 90 stitches to repair the cut. He missed the rest of the regular season but returned for three playoff games.

"I knew there was something going on but I didn't want to think about it because I wanted to play," he said Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple. "You try to play through everything, and I did."

Boychuk says he was diagnosed with optic nerve damage and "some other stuff." Had the initial diagnosis right after the playoffs ended, been seeing doctors regularly since.

- Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) November 25, 2020

Boychuk, who'll turn 37 in January, played parts of 13 seasons in the NHL and spent the last six with New York. He won the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011, and the Bruins traded him to the Islanders on the eve of the 2014-15 season.

Known for his ability to tee up blistering and accurate slap shots, the longtime rearguard produced 54 goals and 206 points in 725 contests.

The Colorado Avalanche selected Boychuk 61st overall in 2002.

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