Needing a forward to replace the injured Anthony Stewart for Tuesday’s game against Ottawa, the Carolina Hurricanes have recalled forward Zach Boychuk from the Checkers.
The recall is Boychuk’s first of the season. The 22-year-old forward has played 56 NHL games over the past three seasons, scoring seven goals – two of which came in his most recent meeting with the Senators last season.
Boychuk has recorded six points (4g, 2a) in the Checkers’ seven games this season, which ties him with Drayson Bowman for second on the team in points and first in goals. His two power-play goals are also tied with Bowman for the team lead.
With so little separating the two on the stat sheet, the decision may have come down to position. Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice told the media in Raleigh that the team needed a right wing, which Boychuk has played exclusively for the Checkers this season, while Bowman has played on the left.
Told by Hurricanes’ coaches and management upon his initial assignment to the Checkers in September that he needed to become a more dynamic scorer, Boychuk has scored a pair of highlight-reel goals in Charlotte. His first came in the Checkers’ home opener on Oct. 15 (video below), with a virtual repeat to come the following week against Houston.
With Monday’s recall of defensemen Justin Faulk and center Brett Sutter still in the NHL following his earlier recall, the Checkers currently have just 19 skaters on the roster. Whether they end up getting reinforcements from Carolina or the ECHL’s Florida Everblades, there will be time to address that need before the team’s next game on Friday in Oklahoma City.
Boychuk has recorded six points (4g, 2a) in the Checkers’ seven games this season, which ties him with Drayson Bowman for second on the team in points and first in goals. His two power-play goals are also tied with Bowman for the team lead.
