Tampa Bay Lightning Report: The Bolts Should Not Trade Brian Boyle
There have been rumors of an impending trade for Tampa Bay Lightning F Brian Boyle. This would be a bad move for the Lightning unless the return is right.
Every year as the NHL’s trade deadline approaches, rumors begin to fly. While the past few trade deadlines have been relatively quiet, with few big moves being made, the rumors persisted none the less. The Tampa Bay Lightning‘s own Brian Boyle has been the subject of a rumor that has gained steam around the league.
According to the Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, the Edmonton Oilers are looking for a depth centerman and believe Boyle could fill the role. The Lightning, on the other hand, would be looking to move Boyle to free up his $2 million salary cap hit, which could be put towards resigning the numerous free agents that the Lightning will have to deal with this offseason.
The impact Boyle has had on the Tampa Bay Lightning since he was signed as a free agent in 2014 it undeniable. While he might not be the Lightning’s top scorer, he leads the team in stats that can’t be recorded. Boyle is a grinder and a scrappy player.
Tampa Bay Lightning
What sets him apart from other players is that this play is consistent and can be counted on. While he might not lead his team in goals, he’s the player that’ll make a play in the defensive zone that’ll lead to an offensive opportunity or scrap for the puck on the forecheck so the Bolts can get an offensive possession.
Things like these usually go unmeasured for the most part, but without them, any team would be uncompetitive.
While he might not lead his team in goals, he’s the player that’ll make a play in the defensive zone that’ll lead to an offensive opportunity or scrap for the puck on the forecheck so the Bolts can get an offensive possession. Things like these usually go unmeasured for the most part, but without them, any team would be uncompetitive.
When he does score, it’s usually impressive and at just the right time. Boyle has a way of bailing out the Lightning when they will need it. The perfect example of this is his second goal of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final last year.
In case you missed it, here is a look at this particular goal courtesy of NHL.com.
I dare to contend this goal is almost as impressive as any other scored that year. There was just enough space for the puck to fit through the nearside corner over Matt Murray’s shoulder, and fit it did.
If it would have been off even an inch in any direction, it wouldn’t have been a goal. Was there a fair amount of luck involved? Probably, but I’d take a lucky goal over a skillful shot that was saved any day of the week. You have to be good to be lucky, and lucky to be good.
Boyle is also a leader for the Bolts. He is one of the few “veterans” on the very young Lightning team. He sets a precedence in the way he plays that is very worthy to be copied. This is useful on its own but has been necessary for the Lightning as their captain is now in his third long-term injury in the past four years.
All of these reasons are what cause me to worry when I hear Brian Boyle’s name in a trade rumor. He plays a very specific and very necessary role that no other player on the Lightning fills right now. The most common evidence for why the trade makes sense is that Boyle can easily be replaced by Brayden Point on the roster.
The only problem with this is that Point and Boyle play very different styles of hockey. Boyle centers the “checking” line for the Bolts while Point plays a more technical style of hockey that wouldn’t fit in if he was simply forced into Boyle’s spot. It just wouldn’t fit.
More From Bolts By The Bay: Edmonton Oilers Interested In Brian Boyle
This trade doesn’t particularly make sense either as the Oilers don’t have any players they would be willing to trade for the center that would be very beneficial for the Bolts. The Lightning have a mostly solid core of players that they have relied on and had success with over the past few years. Admittedly, this hasn’t been an ideal season by any means, but the only thing the Lightning could really use is another defenseman to bolster their blueline a little.
It wouldn’t make sense for the Oilers to trade any of their upper defensemen like Adam Larsson and Andrei Sekera. If the driving force behind this trade is cap space, it wouldn’t make sense for the Lightning to trade for a player that has a larger contract than Boyle either.
The other end of the spectrum wouldn’t be enough of a return for the Lightning for what they are losing either. Draft picks are, of course, an option also but I don’t realistically see anything higher than a second round pick being offered for Boyle, which if offered in conjunction with a younger defenseman, could be a reasonable return. However, I don’t see the Oilers being particularly willing to get rid of very much for what would be a bottom six center for them.
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Boyle’s $2 million cap hit isn’t that much of a difference in the Lightning’s salary cap struggles overall. Without a proper return, which doesn’t seem likely, the Lightning would be much better off keeping Boyle where he is and re-signing him this offseason. It’s unlikely that Boyle would demand any more than his current contract. It would be a shame to see a player who has done as much for the Lightning as Boyle has leave, especially if it isn’t for the proper return.