Agent: Boyle inclined to stay put

There has been a lot of speculation recently that the Lightning is intending to try to trade defenseman Dan Boyle to free up some cap space. The talk almost certainly will heat up now that Tampa Bay acquired from the Flyers, minor league defenseman Janne Niskala, who had 19 goals and 44 points in 80 games last season for AHL Milwaukee.

Before we even get into why the Lightning, as it stands at this moment, is in no position to give up one of the league's best puck-moving defensemen, let's start with this: Dan Boyle, recently married to a local woman and expecting a child in late November, has a no-trade clause that his agent said Monday Boyle likely is not inclined to waive.

"I haven't pushed it with Dan other than when we signed," agent George Bazos said of when Boyle signed his six-year, $40-million deal. "Dan wants to be in Tampa. Nothing has changed as far as that goes. My best guess is that Dan would not want to waive his no-trade clause right now."

And unless the Lightning has plans for a huge trade that would bring in another puck-moving defenseman, or is looking to grab a defenseman in free agency, something owner Oren Koules said is not in their plans, losing Dan Boyle seems a bit of a head-scratcher.

Consider, first, Niskala has yet to play an NHL game. Consider also that there is no one else in the organization with Boyle's kind of puck-moving skills or who can control the transition and the power play like he can. Recall when Boyle was hurt last season, the Lightning had a tough time on the transition to the point it changed its breakouts. As we have mentioned before, Paul Ranger may have it in him but who knows if he will be 100 percent after shoulder surgery. Shane O'Brien? He has the instincts but, right now, not the experience or focus.

To me, and this is just me, it would seem more reasonable to perhaps try and trade, say, Filip Kuba, a huge disappointment last season. That would save $3-million off the cap.

Look, who's to say what will happen? The Lightning after this free agent frenzy may sit down, take stock of what it has and needs and decides on certain courses of action. But for now, Bazos said the team has not contacted him in any way about his client's future with the team and has not asked Boyle to waive his no-trade clause. Still, the Boyle thing seems odd to me. Can't imagine Boyle feels too good either hearing and reading about this stuff. He signed with the Lightning, after all, because he wants to stay here and believes in the franchise.

[Dirk Shadd, Times files]

Comments

[Max Hunter]

The title of this comment should be what my last girlfriend said to me before she broke my heart.

I love you, but I'm just not IN love with you. (B***H!)

The same goes for Boyle. I love the guy, and I can't imagine the team without him. However, he gets hurt often, you can't trust him around sharp objects, and when he came back he skated like McMurphy after a lobotomy ("One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest" reference.) So, my thinking is like this: "Danny boy, I love you, but I'm falling out of love with you, so shape up and get with the program or we should cut this relationship short."

PS
I'm not gay.

[Twinebulge]

TSN's article is such BS...the Cliff Notes version:

"Since Tampa Bay picked up a person named Niskala, an obscure euro defenseman from the AHL who's never played in an NHL game, we'll now pretend he's suddenly as good as a seasoned veteran, a native son of Canada at the top of his game among the very best. This fact regarding the superhuman abilities of Niskala incredibly has somehow eluded everybody in hockey but us. We also pretend to speculate that Boyle must now be in the crosshairs and could be on the way out if the Lightning can make a deal. But--surprise--there are at least seven good, solid reasons why it's so completely unlikely, so totally out of the question as to be not even worth the effort it took to type the words."

the end

[bear]

agree Twine re Boyle.
MCCabe is in same boat for less of a cap hit, but won't allow a trade.Strange.

[Twinebulge]

Don't worry, forgie, if someone says it is amusing when a message deriding another as being so riddled with errors in grammar that it can't be taken seriously...contains at least three of its own. The important thing is, once again we can come here to Comments and get the real scoop on Boyle's relative value as a hockey player instead of the dimwit propaganda pumped out by the so-called "hockey experts" like NHL players, owners, coaches and hockey writers who think Boyle's near the top of his player category (especially when he has two hands) and somehow have all managed to hoodwink enough bigwigs to get paid for their knowledge and opinion, which of course is wrong

Boyle's like most people...basically OK but with some bad points at times

[Tom M]

Don:

Interesting comments...I still maintain that giving up Boyle's upside for mediocrity makes no hockey sense in addition to sending a "Buccaneer like" message that our contractual commitment to you (negotiated relatively recently) basically means nothing...definitely not a good message for a new ownership group to be sending while they are trying to build a good reputation in the hockey community.

[léo]

On Boyle,
First off, whether it be canadiAn sports writers spreading overheard rumors or not,
It certainly wasn't canadiEn sports writers spreadin'em. Two different entities.
No later than this morning, Bob McKenzie was talking that a few weeks ago, "they" (the TSN gang, I presume) were getting wind that Boyle was on the block, which they found weird because he's JUST signed. So they went and asked TB management...and TB managment laughed in their faces. So THAT was nipped in the bud.
But since Malone has signed, those same talks have resumed with frenzy. I'm quoting McKenzie here, "Boyle is definitely on the block. It remains to see if Boyle could lift his NT clause." Almost word for word, that.
Is it true?
How the heck should I know?
But I KNOW that y'all need MORE defensemen, not less.
P.

[Don in St. Pete]

Tom, While I agree with you in principal the numbers tell a different story. If you want to argue that Boyle was hurt so his -29 number should go out the window then you shouls also acknowledge that Kuba played the 1st half of the season hurt and finally took a break to get healthy and then was our best defenseman in the last month of the season. While Kuba is no Orpik or Gill he has a considerable amount of offensive talent and finesse. Part of the problem the Boyle, Kuba, Lundin and the reat dealt with this year was the Tortarella factor. While I love Torts for the way he melded our 04' squad into a cup winner the message was lost on newer players who hadn't been there and done that. If you think back to when we won the gup in 04' the defensive pairings were as follows.

1) Kubina and Sydor
2) Pratt and Sarich
3) Boyle and Luckowich/Cullimore

You never saw Boyle out there against Iginla or Primeau, that would have been pure folly. After the season Tort's announces the Danny Boyle is a top 4 defenseman and start playing him 25 minutes per game and the Lightning has been going downhill ever since. While this isn't Boyle's fault and too his credit his D has improved dramatically since we won the cup, you still have no basis to play Boyle against the other teams top squad. Danny shoyuld be on the power play and the 5th or 6th defenseman, like Streit was in Montreal. We will never win a cup with Boyle playing against the other teams top line shift for shift, even if Lidstrom was his linemate.

[Tom M]

If I were moving D-men, Kuba would be the first to go and O'Brien wouldn't be far behind. For his size, Kuba is a wuss and never embraced the "join the rush" approach for the purpose of helping out the forwards when the opportunity presented itself. And O'Brien? Other than an occasional nasty atittude in defending his teammates (which is what I thought Roy was for) this guy can't skate backwards, consistently take the body, or perform within a system.

Given the paucity of legitimate NHL D-men available at this juncture, trading Boyle for mediocrity will have about as much success as Krispy Kreme's latest diet regimen.

[harvey]

Thank You Mark, DC has been pretty swell not only keeping us up to date but allowing us a place to play.

Don, they can't pay this guy entry level money to play in the AHL. The AHL has salary minimums and maximums. I believe this years max AHL salary is 95k. Could be off by a few there but I think I'm pretty close. That's all he can get at that level.

Either these guys think he's ready to make the jump and are willing to take that chance or......they will let him go to Russia and continue to develop while they hold his rights, and Russia is paying him the $ he wants until he's ready to hit the show.

I don't know really. Just a thought!

[Mark]

Hey Forgie, take a look at the article again. Maybe your reading comprehension needs a little brushing up. DC said "one of the league's best puck-moving defensemen". I believe this would include him in the group of guys your talking about. If this is not your opinion, then maybe you should check some video tape of games played before his injury this past year.

By the way, stop bashing the guy who has spent the last three days feverishly updating us on latest Lightning news.

[Don in St. Pete]

Speculation by some is that the Lightning knew Niskala would not accept a 2 way deal and had signed a KHL deal to play in Russia. This would lead me to believe they plan on him making the team out of camp or are willing to pay him entry level money to play at Norfolk. Go figure.....

[Don in St. Pete]

While Boyle cretainly has a lot of value, he also has his weaknesses. While I agree with DC that it doesn't appear Boyle will be moved, depending upon what else the owners do, that situation could change. One fallacy to correct off the bat though, Boyle was not the QB on the power play, that was Brad Richards, and he was sorely missed in that regard after the trade deadline deal. Boyle was well enough acquainted with the system that he slid into that spot fairly well. Rolston can QB the PP, if we can sign him. We may still be after Vrbata tomorrow if we can sign Rolston. Boyle stays at least until all other holes are filled, then the bets would be even money in my opinion.

[Mike13]

How about taking a look at Alexei Zhitnik whom was just bought out by the Thrashers? Although last season was disappointing, he could be a solid top 4 addition to the blueline.

[forgie]

Dan Boyle the best puck moving defensemen in the league? Are you insane? He isn't even in the same class as Lidstrom, Zubov, Neidermayer, and Gonchar, let alone even close. Also consider reading your article before you post it, riddled with grammar errors that make it tough to take you seriously.

[GP]

Keep Boyle, Trade Kuba & O'Brien & claim Gauthier off waivers from Philly.

[Not the Marlboro Man]

This is all just a bunch of Canadien Sports Writer rumor mongering, like most of the negative crap you hear about the Bolts it has no merrit and no verifiable sources. Since the sports world has dealt these wannabees such a crappy hand--so they think-- they make themselves feel better by trying to play ours. This type of speculation is all immature make-believe fantasy land stuff. TSN is famous for spinning a bunch of nothing into something.

[Mark]

I would like to thank the media for causing this drama. OK has been up front with almost everything that he has done so far. Both Koules and Barry Melrose has said this is hogwash and they will be relying on Boyle next year for 25 minutes per game. Can we just leave it at that for now? Boyle is one of those topics they were firm on. I think we need to believe them on thin one.

This ownership is creating a good vibe with the "agressive" moves they have made. Moving Boyle after making firm statements would raise doubt amoung all of us. Boyle is in their plan and this is just the media trying to upset things.

Niskala sounds like a great addition. I have to add, since when is a player who has never competed on the NHL level or won the Stanley Cup compared to a fantastic player such as Boyle. This is rediculous.

With the possiblity of more additions comes subtaction. There will be some players who will be moving on to other places if not Norfolk. The ownership has been very careful in their statements about who is here and who is not. They have clearly said Boyle will be here, but left an awful lot of guys out there.

As far as I can tell the only guys who have have been mentioned in a possitive light from the owneship is V4, V20, MSL, SS, Boyle, Picard, Ranger, Obrien, Halpburn, Arty, Ouellett, Jokinen, Smith, and Ramo. obviously, our new acquisitions are also looking good. Let me know if I'm wrong.

[Jim-NJ]

Okay, Niskala was not intended to be on the (immediate) NHL roster, plain and simple. Why is the rest of the world even inquring that he's a replacement for DAN BOYLE of all people? Who makes up these rediculous rumors and why do they get so much steam? (for a similar laugh, google: Iphone shuffle; people are believing that one too!).

Semper Fi,
Jim

[karma]

You are right on the mark with this one, DC.

[Geografer]

Boyle stays - if he were traded and that is a big if - the team that gets him would win any trade hands down (no matter who/what we got in return). Kuba can go - bye bye - thanks for very little.

[rod]

i swear we've been through this before:

Don't get rid of Boyle.

[California Kevin]

Trading Boyle would be an error and sounds like another Canadian press corps creative attempt to make headlines. We should sign an experienced stay at home defenseman for him to work with and balance his offensive tendancies(ie Jason Smith or Brooks Orpik).

[Mike13]

Did the sale go through yet?

[Mike13]

Boyle should stay put. Plain and simple.