One of the names linked to the Tampa Bay Lightning in free agency is former Bolts defenseman Dan Boyle. I don’t think I need to recap so much about Boyle’s exile from Tampa, do I? 2008: Signed contract extension, then OK Hockey Group took over the franchise and co-owner Len Barrie wanted him gone. Boyle was forced out via trade to San Jose and had been there ever since.
The Sharks were not going to re-sign Boyle after the 2013-14 season, and his rights were traded to the New York Islanders (who attempted to sign him before he hit the market).
Now that he’s on the open market, he’s in for a payday:
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: ”The Wings will be offering Dan Boyle a two-year contract in the $11 million range.”
— Dale Lamontagne (@Dale_Lamontagne) July 1, 2014
Not bad for a guy who turns 38 on July 12th, huh?
The right-handed defenseman still has ties (a home) to Tampa and his agent has stated Boyle’s own interest in Tampa. Any deal has to make economic sense for the Bolts though, and $5.5 million a year seems a tad much for a defenseman who scored 12 goals and 24 assists last season while he was a minus-12.
