Johnny Boychuk has been an excellent defenseman for the New York Islanders this season, and on Thursday, the team announced it had signed the 31-year-old veteran to a huge contract extension.
Arthur Staple of Newsday reported that the deal is for $42 million over seven years, which will make Boychuk the Islanders’ highest-paid player next season. It also includes a no-movement clause, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Boychuk leads all Islanders defensemen in scoring with 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists) in 59 games. That said, giving a seven-year contract with that kind of salary-cap hit to a defensemen who’s already 31 years old and plays a physical game certainly is a risk.
In the short term, it’s a fantastic deal for the Islanders, who have emerged as a legit contender in the Eastern Conference this season and for the future.
The Islanders also signed Nick Leddy to a seven-year extension earlier this season. Leddy and Boychuk have formed a solid first pairing on Long Island after both of them were acquired shortly before the 2014-15 season.
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