Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: 12 Gifts From Team This Christmas Season

By Nick Villano

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: NJ Devil of the New Jersey Devils celebrates during the mascot showdown prior to the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Staples Center on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: NJ Devil of the New Jersey Devils celebrates during the mascot showdown prior to the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Staples Center on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Gift #3: Brian Boyle

What more can be said about the gift that is Brian Boyle? When he signed with the Devils on the first day of free agency, the response was underwhelming. Most Devils fans were hoping the team would make a splash, but the only player to come out of day one was Boyle.

Many fans were upset at the end of the day because Kevin Shattenkirk chose the rival Rangers over the Devils.

Now, six months later, many fans may choose Boyle over Shattenkirk.

Obviously, Boyle isn’t a superstar on the level of most NHL players, but nobody could make the impact he’s made over the past two months. Boyle scored his tenth goal of the season on Saturday night. This, despite the fact that he missed 10 games to start the year.

Speaking of that, another gift to fans was even bigger to Boyle and his family. He was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia prior to the season. It took a fight, but he’s kicked cancer’s butt. His fight brought new life into Devils fans. Obviously, a cancer fight is much more important than hockey, but it can’t be ignored when talking about what that fight did to this team.

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