Boychuk

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has claimed forward Zach Boychuk on waivers from the Nashville Predators.

Boychuk, 23, appeared in Carolina’s season opener on Jan. 19 against the Florida Panthers and was then a healthy extra for four games before being placed on waivers and subsequently claimed by Pittsburgh on Jan. 31. Tthe Airdrie, Alb., native played in seven games for the Penguins from Feb. 2-13 prior to being acquired on waivers by the Nashville Predators on March 5. He scored one goal and earned one assist (2 points) in five games with the Predators, and has totaled two points (1g, 1a) and six penalty minutes in 13 total NHL games this season with Carolina, Pittsburgh and Nashville.

Prior to the end of the NHL work stoppage, Boychuk earned 32 points (16g, 16a) in 37 games for Carolina’s top American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Charlotte. He ranks third in goals and fifth in points among Checkers skaters despite not having played a game with the team since Jan. 11. Drafted by the Hurricanes in the first round (14th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Boychuk has scored eight goals and earned 12 assists (20 points) in 85 career NHL games with the Hurricanes, Penguins and Predators.