In the days leading up to the 2017 NHL Trade Deadline, lots of the talk was focused on the Edmonton Oilers and Brian Boyle. The team was in need of a veteran center to help in the faceoff circle for an eventual playoff push. For a while, it looked like a forgone conclusion that Boyle would end up in Edmonton by the end of the March 1st deadline. Yet, it wasn’t meant to be.
Just a mere two days before the Trade Deadline, it was announced that the Tampa Bay Lightning had traded Boyle to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a below subpar prospect and a 2nd round pick. The news came as a surprise to many, as Toronto was not yet in solid playoff footing. For myself, the news was disappointing. Boyle produced a good mix of size and skill in the faceoff dot, and I could have easily seen him finding a comfortable spot on the team’s third line.
Now, with the offseason inching ever nearer, the Oilers will once again be in a position to acquire the hulking 6-foot-7 Hingham, Massachusetts native. The question becomes: Is Brian Boyle a realistic target for the Edmonton Oilers?
Why Is He Out There?:
When Toronto acquired Boyle from the Lightning, I don’t think many people out there expected him to be there for the long haul. Although that perspective might have changed over time, with Boyle proving to be a valuable veteran presence on an extremely young team, there is reason to question how much the Leafs want to commit to the soon-to-be 33-year-old centerman.
Boyle is a UFA this summer, and there will be a list of teams inquiring about his services. The Leafs could very well one of those teams but, again, I don’t think they will put forward the most enticing contract considering his age.
All 30 teams will have a crack at Brian Boyle come July 1st, who will emerge the winner? Well, that is to be seen.
What Does He Do Well?:
One of the two big appeals that Boyle brought for the Edmonton Oilers was his physical size. The guy is basically a tank on skates at 6-foot-7 243lbs. That is the type of player that would have Peter Chiarelli short of breath with sweat sliding down the side of his head. The other appeal was that Boyle is pretty good in the faceoff dot. The Oilers ran into a problem last season with faceoff wins, and Boyle’s 52.2% in the circle would have been the best on the team.
As for what else he brings, The Hockey News praises his versatility and athleticism. This was actually well-represented in his short time with the Leafs, becoming a valuable penalty killer.
When it came to offensive production this past season…he didn’t exactly put anyone on notice. In 54 games with the Lightning, Boyle was able to muster a respectable 13 goals and 22pts. When it came to those final 21 games with the Leafs, however, he was only good for 3 assists. It is clear that the value lies in the intangibles that he brings with that massive frame of his. Truculence is a word that comes to mind…*Cough* Burke *Cough*
In all seriousness, Boyle is a physical force to be reckoned with that can kill penalties and provide to be a pain for opposing teams. While he won’t break the bank offensively, he does make your team be that much tougher.
Where Will He Play/Where Should He Play?:
If you’ve read my recent piece on Sam Gagner, you would notice that Edmonton isn’t exactly the perfect landing spot for NHL centerman at the moment. With guys like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl holding the fort in the top 6, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Mark Letestu proving to be more than ideal bottom 6 options…not much wiggle room is left for addition. Luckily for Boyle, he is used to playing in a lesser role.
In Toronto, Boyle was handed the keys to the fourth line. While not providing much offense, Boyle thrived in a defensive role with the club and became a big reason for the team eventually making the playoffs. This is somewhere where Boyle should remain if he comes to Edmonton. The only problem that persists is the fact that Mark Letestu is the current fourth line center for the Oilers, and there really is no reason for that change.
Letestu had a very good season with Edmonton, putting up a career-high 35pts and becoming a Power-Play specialist. The team shouldn’t be looking to replace him with Boyle. Ideally, Todd McLellan would put that aforementioned versatility to use and put Boyle on the wing somewhere in the bottom 6.
He should be a fourth line center but, since Edmonton already has a pretty good one of those, he will most likely be a bottom 6 winger.
What Will He Cost?:
On his last contract with, signed as a member of the Lightning, Boyle made 6-million-dollars over the course of 3-years (2M AAV). While he has proved to be a good veteran presence everywhere he goes…I don’t think that he necessarily earned himself a raise.
Andrew Forbes of The Hockey Writers suggested that the Leafs look into signing him to a 2-year-deal with an AAV of 3.5M in this article. That just seems a little too rich for a guy that will most likely play the majority of his time on the fourth line. Another factor that has to be considered is the age of Boyle. He turns 33 this December and this is something that could limit his ability to snag a long-term deal with a team.
A fair value contract for Brian Boyle would be something in the range of a two-year contract with an AAV of 2-2.4 million. A raise, but not a massive one. Obviously, with the frenzy that is free agency, the dollar value of that contract will probably more closely resemble Forbes’ 3.5 million.
Closing Argument:
Brian Boyle would provide the Edmonton Oilers with a valuable veteran presence in their bottom 6. With guys like Anton Slepyshev, Drake Caggiula, and even Jesse Puljujarvi potentially slotting into the 3rd and 4th lines next season, having Boyle mentor some of the young guys would be valuable. You can also never have enough net-front presence and penalty kill help, which he brings both of.
In the end, I don’t think Boyle would be too ecstatic about playing out of his natural center position, and the Oilers won’t be able to offer him the money that he could get elsewhere. While it would be nice, Boyle was really only viewed as a rental during the season, not a long-term solution.
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