Dan Boyle

Daniel Denis Boyle (born July 12, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Undrafted, Boyle played in the NHL for the Florida Panthers; Tampa Bay Lightning, with which he won the Stanley Cup in 2004; San Jose Sharks; and New York Rangers.

Collegiate career Boyle played junior hockey for the Gloucester Rangers of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and signed to play US college hockey for Miami University of the CCHA. Boyle established himself quickly, making the first-team All-Rookie team in 1994–95, the All-CCHA First Team in 1996–97 and 1997–98, and being named a first-team All-American in both 1997 and 1998. He was Miami's record holder for goals in a game by a defenseman (3) and points in a season by a defenseman (54). During his career, he ranked second at Miami in career assists (107), ninth in career points (147) and third in assists in a season (43 in 1997). In 1996–97, Boyle helped Miami to a 27–12–1 (.688) mark and the program's second ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Boyle was named to the Miami University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Professional career

Florida Panthers Undrafted in any NHL entry draft after four years of college hockey at Miami University, the under-sized defender was signed as a free agent by the Florida Panthers on March 30, 1998. Boyle was signed by Florida after being scouted by Bill Davich, a golf instructor for Miami University and part time scout for the Panthers saw him play; the Panthers were the only team to have interest in Boyle. He played the majority of his first two seasons in the Panthers' farm system in the American Hockey League (AHL), earning All-Rookie Team honours in 1999, as well as Second Team All-Star honours in 1999 and 2000.

Boyle recorded 13 goals and 53 points in his first full season with the Lightning in 2002–03 before helping the team to the 2004 Stanley Cup championship. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Boyle went overseas to play for Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Elitserien. As NHL play resumed the next season, Boyle continued to produce with a 15-goal, 53-point season in 2005–06. He recorded his first career NHL hat-trick against the New York Rangers on December 23, 2006, adding an assist for a four-point game in a 4–3 win. The following season, Boyle elevated his game to career-high numbers of 20 goals, 43 assists and 63 points, good enough for Second team All-Star honours.

Boyle suffered a major setback, however, in September 2007, injuring himself in a freak accident after a pre-season game when a skate slipped off a hook in his locker and hit him in the left wrist, severing three tendons. Boyle underwent initial wrist surgery on September 23; he attempted to return on October 29, but after playing his first four games of the 2007–08 season, Boyle underwent additional surgery on the injured wrist, missing another 36 games. He did not make a full comeback until January 24, 2008, scoring two goals in his return, and soon thereafter was re-signed to a six-year, $40 million contract extension on February 25. He completed his injury-shortened campaign with 25 points in 37 games.

Despite having signed a six-year extension with the Lightning in February, Tampa Bay looked to trade Boyle soon after and threatened to put him on waivers, allowing any franchise to select Boyle for zero compensation to the team, if he did not waive his no-trade clause to accept a trade out of Tampa. Boyle was pressured to waive his no-trade clause by Tampa Bay's new ownership, who said they would otherwise place him on waivers, where he would likely be claimed by the Atlanta Thrashers. Already knowing Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Evgeni Nabokov, Boyle agreed to be traded to the Sharks.

In his first season with the Sharks, Boyle tallied 16 goals and 57 points over 77 games, leading all team defencemen. The following season, on December 31, 2009, Boyle scored his 100th career NHL goal against the Phoenix Coyotes in a 3–2 shootout win. He finished the campaign with 15 goals and 58 points. In the opening series of the 2010 playoffs, Boyle ended game three against the Colorado Avalanche in overtime by inadvertently shooting the puck into his own net. Pressured by Avalanche forward Ryan O'Reilly, Boyle attempted to ring the puck around the boards behind his net, but it was deflected by O'Reilly into the Sharks' net between Evgeni Nabokov's pad and the post, resulting in a 1–0 win for Colorado and 2–1 series lead. Nonetheless, the Sharks won the series 4–2, winning games 4, 5 and 6; Boyle had a point in all three games.

In the first period of the October 15, 2013, against the St. Louis Blues, Boyle was checked from behind by Maxim Lapierre into the boards, injuring his jaw and knocking him unconscious; the incident led to a fight involving teammate Matt Pelech and 17 minutes worth of penalties for Andrew Desjardins. Boyle was taken off the ice via stretcher to a local hospital, and would miss the following game against the Dallas Stars. He returned on November 2, in a game against the Phoenix Coyotes, scoring a goal in a shootout loss. After the conclusion of the 2013–14 season, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson announced that pending free agent Boyle would not be returning to San Jose for the 2014–15 season. On June 5, the Sharks traded his rights to the New York Islanders for a conditional 2015 fifth-round pick.

New York Rangers Unable to come to terms with the Islanders, Boyle opted to head to free agency, and on July 1, 2014, he signed a two-year contract with the New York Rangers. Boyle's time with the Rangers is often remembered by a notable verbal altercation he had with Rangers reporter Larry Brooks when Boyle refused to conduct an interview with Brooks in the locker room on April 26, 2016.

Unsigned for the entire 2016 offseason, on October 5, 2016, Boyle announced his retirement from the NHL. Boyle scored 164 goals and 605 points over 1,093 NHL games with four teams. In his retirement statement Boyle said, "I've been fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to do what I most love to do. All I wanted to do as a young boy was have the opportunity to play ONE game in the NHL. Over a thousand games later, this whole experience seems surreal. I want to thank all four organizations for the opportunity, my teammates and the FANS for this amazing run that I will cherish forever." Boyle stated that he will live in the San Jose area with his family.

International play

Boyle made his international debut with Canada at the 2005 World Championships in Austria during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. He contributed three assists in nine games as part of a silver medal-winning effort by Canada; they were defeated 3–0 in the gold medal game by the Czech Republic. The next year, Boyle was named as a reserve in light of injuries to Scott Niedermayer and Ed Jovanovski for Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He did not appear in a game, however, as Team Canada was kept off the podium.

On December 30, 2009, team Canada general manager Steve Yzerman named Boyle to the 2010 Winter Olympic team as a full member. On February 28, 2010, the team defeated the United States to win Canada's eighth gold medal in Olympic men's hockey.

Personal life Boyle has two daughters. and is in a relationship with real estate agent Collette D’Amico.

Growing up, Boyle attended French-speaking École élémentaire Sainte-Anne and École secondaire publique De La Salle in Ottawa. As a child he was a fan of the Philadelphia Flyers, though his family cheered for the Montreal Canadiens.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1991–92 Gloucester Rangers CJHL 4 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1992–93 Gloucester Rangers CJHL 55 22 51 73 60 — — — — — 1993–94 Gloucester Rangers CJHL 53 27 44 81 155 — — — — — 1994–95 Miami University (Ohio) CCHA 35 8 18 26 24 — — — — — 1995–96 Miami University (Ohio) CCHA 36 7 20 27 70 — — — — — 1996–97 Miami University (Ohio) CCHA 40 11 43 54 52 — — — — — 1997–98 Miami University (Ohio) CCHA 37 14 26 40 58 — — — — — 1997–98 Cincinnati Cyclones IHL 8 0 3 3 20 5 0 1 1 4 1998–99 Kentucky Thoroughblades AHL 53 8 34 42 87 12 3 5 8 16 1998–99 Florida Panthers NHL 22 3 5 8 6 — — — — — 1999–2000 Louisville Panthers AHL 58 14 38 52 75 4 0 2 2 8 1999–2000 Florida Panthers NHL 13 0 3 3 4 — — — — — 2000–01 Louisville Panthers AHL 6 0 5 5 12 — — — — — 2000–01 Florida Panthers NHL 69 4 18 22 28 — — — — — 2001–02 Florida Panthers NHL 25 3 3 6 12 — — — — — 2001–02 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 41 5 15 20 27 — — — — — 2002–03 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 77 13 40 53 44 11 0 7 7 6 2003–04 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 78 9 30 39 60 23 2 8 10 16 2004–05 Djurgårdens IF SEL 32 9 9 18 47 12 2 3 5 26 2005–06 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 79 15 38 53 38 5 1 3 4 6 2006–07 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 82 20 43 63 62 6 0 1 1 2 2007–08 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 37 4 21 25 57 — — — — — 2008–09 San Jose Sharks NHL 77 16 41 57 52 6 2 2 4 8 2009–10 San Jose Sharks NHL 76 15 43 58 70 15 2 12 14 8 2010–11 San Jose Sharks NHL 76 9 41 50 67 18 4 12 16 8 2011–12 San Jose Sharks NHL 81 9 39 48 57 5 0 2 2 4 2012–13 San Jose Sharks NHL 46 7 13 20 27 11 3 5 8 2 2013–14 San Jose Sharks NHL 75 12 24 36 32 7 0 4 4 8 2014–15 New York Rangers NHL 65 9 11 20 20 19 3 7 10 2 2015–16 New York Rangers NHL 74 10 14 24 30 4 0 1 1 0 NHL totals 1,093 163 442 605 693 130 17 64 81 70

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2005 Canada WC 9 0 3 3 6 2010 Canada Oly 7 1 5 6 2Senior totals 16 1 8 9 8

Awards and honours