Boyle: "It's been tough. ... I want to be here"

The first thing Dan Boyle wanted clear Thursday morning is that he re-signed with the Lightning last season "to stay in Tampa."

There are several reasons. The defenseman is recently married to Amber Esposito of Indian Rocks Beach, and the couple is expecting a child in late November. "And her family is here and friends," Boyle said. Mostly, though, he wants to stay in Tampa because he loves the Lightning.

"It's not always about the money all the time," said Boyle, whose six-year, $40-million deal will pay a relatively reasonable $6.667-million annually. "I'm a pretty loyal guy. I'm a Tampa guy. That's who helped me turn my career around and gave me a chance. This is where I want to be. If I'm not there, it's not because I don't want to be."

Boyle, who turns 32 on July 12, said listening to the rumors he will be traded to help clear cap space for a team that is over the $56.7-million limit "has been tough. It's been really hard."

He also said that right now, he has no intention of waiving his no-trade clause. Having said that, he also said he understands this situation is not personal.

"I'm looking at every different angle, but mainly, absolutely, business," he said. "If a trade makes sense, I completely understand, and I have no problem with that. But on the other hand, if it doesn't make sense, then I do have a problem with that."

Boyle said he is completely healed from last season's wrist problems, had a few words for those who mock his minus-29 rating from last season -- "There were only a handful of games where I could hardly hold my stick" -- and if he is not traded would have no trouble playing for a team that perhaps tried to move him.

"I play for the guys in the locker room," Boyle said. "That's who I play for. They're not involved in the negotiations. When I was in Florida (with the Panthers) I still played my heart out for a coach (Mike Keenan) I couldn't even bear to look at. I just play."

There will be more in Friday's paper.

 

Comments

[jimmy]

so are there no other players on this team we can dump for extra cap space? it would be completely absurd to trade one of the leagues best defensmen...unless we get another really good defender

[Graham]

Wow. Danny did not just throw Keenan under the proverbial bus like that, did he? That's awesome. Where I'm sitting looking at this whole thing this morning, Kuba is the most likely candidate for blueline fat trimmings.......

[Graham]

After re-reading this, that comment in the third-to-last paragraph is interesting. So is he saying that if a trade made sense for all parties, he would be willing to waive the clause? Film at 11, right?

[Graham]

Wow. Danny did not just throw Keenan under the proverbial bus like that, did he? That's awesome. Where I'm sitting looking at this whole thing this morning, Kuba is the most likely candidate for blueline fat trimmings.......

[rod]

trade Kuba for a 7th round draft choice

[Geografer]

Well said Danny - I don't think you will see most of the fans complain if you don't waive your no-trade clause - in fact I think most of us will applaud you for it!

[jhkyref]

Enough said. Dan is our man on defense. OK. put this to rest so we can move on. I think we will all see how good Boyle is this season. Then all the negative comments will become positive.

[Mike13]

If OK wanted the payroll to be at 48-mil then they should have budgeted the money for Stamkos and should have been more responsible when signing guys like Roberts to a 2-mil deal.

[Michelle]

I don't get why he would have been signed last year around the trade deadline if they were just going to turn around and do this now???? The new ownership seemed to be involved and on board with that deal when it was made.

[Barry]

The new owners are idiots. They think they are drafting a hockey pool team signing a bunch of forwards, quality forwards but what the team needed to sign was defensive defensmen not forwards and now they want to trade away our best offensive defenseman. When our sieve defense starts letting goals in we can all thank our Hollywood boys for signing forwards. Thank you Glimmer Twins.

[Don in St. Pete]

Last time I checked this is a business. When they couldn't deal DB last year at the deadline. It made sense to sign him if they were sure he would recover from the injury because he is an asset and you don't want him walking away for zilch in return. That being said when they kbew they wouldn't have enough $ to sign another defenseman they should have thought twice or maybe 3 times about the Hall and Roberts Deals. While I admire both players and believe they have a positive upside, we didn't NEED either of them. We have that $2.6mil we can sign a Keith Carney, or somebody similar. I view this a mistake they will learn from the second time around, but they still have an opportunity to acquire defensive help via trade, though woefully few teams has surplus defensive assets.

[jhkyref]

Carney would be a great pick up for us, let get rid of Kuba he was terrible and Carney is a good stay at home veteran defenseman. Sportnet Canada say about Carney,"Is very sound in his own end and often responsible for shutting down the opposition's best players. Has durability and size to play a physical defensive game. Always leads by example. Flaws: Like most stay-at-home defensemen, he lacks the offensive prowess that garners media and fan attention. Career potential: Stay-at-home defensive leader.

[Bryan]

You know Danny, I hope you make those people pay for ripping on your plus/minus. Give em hell.

[sandro]

If they trade Boyle it would be the first and biggest mistake Oren could do.After all that good things that happened it was just a matter of time when the first mistake happens

[Don in St. Pete]

Barry, I totally disagree. You don't become a millionaire by being an idiot. Inexperienced? Definitely! Overzealous? Probably. They made a rookie mistake and while I am pissed that we may be paying for it now, I think they learned a valuable lesson. They still have the opportunity to correct the mistake via trade and should be given the time and respect to get it done. If nothing is done before the start of the season then we may be right to pile on, but I for one will be waiting until the dust settles before I join a lynch mob set on crucufying the new owners who just made us a certainty to make the playoffs.

[Don in St. Pete]

jhkyref, Thanks for concurring. The description for exactly what we need. If OK and Len don't sign Roberts and Hall, then we probably have the resources to sign Carney. That Sandro was their first mistake, but it ain't over til the horn sounds.Ok and Len are still in the game and we have positive offensive assets that will likely yet bring us something in return.

[Max Hunter]

Look, I love Boyle, but what has he seriously done for us lately, and what can we expect him to seriously do for us in the upcoming season? Over 6.5 million for a defensemen who can't be trusted around sharp objects, and hasn't seen a decent game in over a year can't be the smartest move. I hope he does stay (regardless if it's a smart move) but can someone sooth my fears that he'll be back to the Boyle we once knew?

[Tommy Toughnuts]

The quotation I am most relieved to hear is Danny saying "if it makes sense". Good stuff DB, just make sure it makes good hockey sense for the fans who want more than a bag of pucks for you.
Also, on the enforcer signing. What I would give to go to a preseason game this year. The guy almost averaged 5 PIM a GAME in the minors. Does he even wear gloves?

[Mike13]

If OK wanted the payroll to be at 48-mil then they should have budgeted the money for Stamkos and should have been more responsible when signing the FA guys.

That said, if they somehow land a cheap, game-controlling d-man, then I wouldn't be too upset about letting go of Boyle.

Without Boyle, who is our QB for the PP?

Defense was really struggling with Boyler hurt last year...just how do you fill those skates?? Wasn't he touted as one of the Big Four...now the Big Three??

[Berliner]

I have no problem with OK listening to offers. And apprarently they have something good on the other end of the line if they asked Boyle to waive the NT clause. I hope it's a solid defensemen with at least 4-5 years experience. Or Dion Phaneuf.

The only time I will likely believe the trade rumors is if it involves the New York Rangers - this is where Boyle said he would have liked to go at the trade deadline. I dont see much changing his opinion in these last few non-game months.

My personal opinion is that I would like to see him traded, ONLY if we get a "solid" in return. He was definitely NOT my favorite player last year but with Roberts on the bench now, I see a lot more defensive responsibility coming to the team to help him out back there.

[Pete]

Why cant we trade kuba and ouellete?! or even Ward? that would free up some room and if Boyle really means it when he says it's not always about the money, see if he will restructure his contract to make the cap hit less than what it is!

[Don in St. Pete]

Last time I checked Boyle played for the Bolts not the Bucs. There is no restructuring of your contract in the NHL. I too agree we should be trying to move Ward, Tarnasky, Kuba and Lukowich before we try to trade Boyle. Since we seem to have reached that point my guess isthey've had no luck on that front. Ouellet should stay. Jokinen is now baiscally out of position ans expendable as well.

[JB]

You take out Boyle and the entire core is dead. Maybe that's what they are going for,but good luck making the playoffs with a bunch of players just thrown together with no more sense of loyalty or belonging for those who do remain. Lecavalier must be second-guessing the long contract after the way they have backstabbed Boyle.

[Amma]

This new administration originally made a big splash about having Vinny, Marty and Danny touted as the Big Three, and we all know they played an integral role in ensuring he stay near the trade deadline.

Now they want to make a big splash by essentially giving us a whole new team? We are on our way to a great deal of success, and Boyler deserves to be a part of it. He's given Tampa fans a lot, and he wants to be here. Let us keep him!

[Tackleberry]

Here is an article from Sportsnet. It says that Ottawa has been in contact with Matthieu Schneider and Dan Boyle.

www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/07/02/boyle_sens/

[Stacey]

"Lecavalier must be second-guessing the long contract after the way they have backstabbed Boyle."

Nah, I think if he was going to second guess them, it would have been when they shafted his BEST FRIEND; not Dan Boyle. Vinny's aware of the business part of this game. They ALL are.

[ajax]

Vinny to my knowledge has not officially signed anything. With all the headlines that is a real question.
Damian, where are you?
Why hasn't he signed gang??

[Don in St. Pete]

Word I heard is that Vinny would be signing when he returned to Tampa in mid July. His is rehabbing in Montreal. People, OK will not trade Boyle unless he can improve the team, trust me on that. How much better or whether they shift focus to moving other assets is now the question.

[Stacey]

I'm pretty sure he hasn't signed b/c they want to do the whole pomp and circumstance; signing infront of 100 cameras snapping thing. STH have already been invited to the town hall meeting with Vinny mid-July.

[daryl]

didn't it dawn on anyone in the front office that they were overshooting the cap when they were signing players every hour like a drunken fantasy league manager...and maybe they should of guaged boyle's as well as the fans thoughts on trading one of the best players this team has ever had

[Tom]

His wife Amber is an awesome hair dresser, and a very nice person. Who will cut my hair now!!!

[brendan]

Boyle should stay, they should trade some of the third or fourth line stiffs

Brendan O' Leary

[Lisa]

Danny, don't waive your NTC!!! We want you in Tampa. Let them trade Kuba and others to get the cap down. The reason you put in a NTC is so you have that choice, so exercise that right and stay here.

[Jim-NJ]

renegotiate a new contract- $5mil a season and be done with it OR MOVE TO THE WING!

[Tim]

You people who are saying for Dan to re-negotiate his contract don't get it..
Hockey contracts cannot be re-done ...
This isn't the NFL.. it's the NHL...

[JB]

"Nah, I think if he was going to second guess them, it would have been when they shafted his BEST FRIEND; not Dan Boyle. Vinny's aware of the business part of this game. They ALL are."

They never lied to his best friend and built him up like he was going to retire here. They weren't even around when that contract was signed. If they can talk up Boyle and then throw him to the wolves, Lecavalier would have to reconsider the value of all the rhetoric about him being here forever in context of the big prospective contract. This is a business, absolutely, and saying one thing then doing another is bad business, especially when you are trying to establish a rapport with the players and fans. I now see why they fired Tortorella. He would not be standing for this.