Koules, Melrose mock Boyle rumor

Oren Koules rolled his eyes when told about the rumor floating around the Lightning. Barry Melrose just chuckled.

The rumor from Canada's TSN: Defenseman Dan Boyle could be trade bait this summer in order to free up some salary cap space.

Melrose said it was a case of the Canadian media trying to "make" the news, and added, "Danny Boyle is the guy I'm counting on to play 25 minutes a night."

Asked about the rumor, Koules said, "I'll answer anything that's important" and proceeded not to answer.

At a quick glance, the idea of losing Boyle doesn't make a lot of sense unless the team plans on bringing in another puck-moving defenseman. Anyone who saw Tampa Bay play last season knows the gymnastics the team went through to reconfigure its breakouts because it did not have another player capable of lugging the puck or consistently making a definitive pass forward to keep up with sprinting forwards like Vinny Lecavalier or Marty St. Louis.

And if the Lightning does not bring in another puck-mover to take Boyle's place, the job would fall to the still developing Paul Ranger, who may or may not be 100 percent because of shoulder surgery. Shane O'Brien may have the instincts for the job, but not the experience or the discipline just yet.

Granted, rumors come from somewhere, but the Boyle one, right now, anyway, seems a little odd.

      

Comments

[Carson]

Trading Boyle? pleeeeeaese their power play was dead last year cause he was out. Going after another puck moving D man would give boyle some breathing room and get our power play back where we need it

[Twinebulge]

Quoi?

[Don in St. Pete]

Je ne comprend pas! Mais oui,Danny Boyle de les leafs, n'est pas?

[Hawkeye]

Since Vinny4 is going to be re-signed for 9 years, the Canadian press had to go after somebody to move to "Canada", so.....

Morons!

[David]

I mostly agree with Don. I think Boyle is a great offensive defensman, but in no way is he a 2-way defenseman and is weak in what I consider the primary job of the position...DEFENSE.

He isn't horrible, but he ain't Nik Lidstrom either.

[Don in St. Pete]

Twine, While your humour wasn't lost on me, I can tell you that as a defenseman for 12 years I will not be sticking up for DB. While he had a horrible injury and the botched surgery, he was NEVER responsible in his own end, even though Tort's has his nose up Danny's butt the whole time. If Tort's had treated the younger guys 25% of the way he adored Boyle maybe we wouldn't be where we are today. If DB can come back to where he was before then he's an NHL player if not, he's a liability.

[Twinebulge]

For the mentally challenged the above post was sarcastic i.e. not serious. Boyle rocks

Now watch, bet someone still goes off on a rant to defend Boyle

[Twinebulge]

See, this is the best part about this log. The rest of the so-called "hockey world", people who act smart but only THINK they know the game such as NHL coaches, scouts, GMs and players, hockey analysts, announcers, and other dopes tell you Dan Boyle is one of the best offensive defensemen in the world. They believe he is a complete player among the elite. Fools! what do they know

Here at least you get to find out the real truth for once :D

[Raymond]

I was hoping some team would be dumb enough to take -22 the turn over machine off our hands.

[Don in St. Pete]

Boyle's no trade clause doesn't kick in until July 1st.

[Don in St. Pete]

C'mon do you guys believe everything you hear in the news? Melrose wasn't coming either remember? We overpaid for Boyle considering the injury he suffered which he may never completely recover from. He sure wasn't hinself at ANY point last year and while I'm hopeful he's back to 100%, I doubt we could trade him anyway for the same reason. If he's 100% then he's among the best puck moving defensemen out there. If not he's worth literally nothing as he's a defensive liability.

[Twinebulge]

Before Shane O'Brien would be considered any kind of stand-in for Danny Boyle in the puck-rushing defenseman department, my calling out O'Brien's name will have to cease ordinarily being preceded by the words "MOVE YOUR %$&*# FEET." Honestly, watching this guy most nights you'd swear there was a giant magnet under the ice where he's standing. (No I don't want to jettison the kid, for whom we gave up a 1st round pick. Lots to like about him and his game, just needs to work--REALLY HARD--on the skating aspect.

Yeah...dump Brad Richards so we can sign Boyle long-term...then dump Boyle too. Makes TOTAL sense, why didn't I think of that? ::eyes roll to back of skull::

[Lisa]

Doesn't Danny have a no trade clause in his current contract and also in his new contract? with him getting married here this summer, I doubt he would be agreeing to drop his no trade clause, even if the team was stupid enough to ask for it.