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New Jersey Devils: Brian Boyle Point Prediction For 2018-19 Season

By Nick Villano

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 17: Brian Boyle #11 of the New Jersey Devils looks at his family during warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Rangers during a preseason game at the Prudential Center on September 17, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 17: Brian Boyle #11 of the New Jersey Devils looks at his family during warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Rangers during a preseason game at the Prudential Center on September 17, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Over the next few weeks, Pucks and Pitchforks will release their points predictions for every starting player on the New Jersey Devils main roster. Today, we predict what Brian Boyle will do in his second season in red and black.

Brian Boyle was the most inspirational player in the entire NHL last season. He was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia right before training camp, which forced him to miss the first 13 games of the season. When he came back, it gave the New Jersey Devils a jolt. Watching the veteran addition to the team fight a life-threatening disease then still focus on hockey makes him an awesome inspiration.

That’s why Boyle won the Bill Masterton Trophy as the most inspirational player in the league.

There were times where Boyle’s production was more than just the locker room variety. He actually produced on the ice at times! There was the Hockey Fights Cancer night when he scored against the Vancouver Canucks. There was also the shootout goal that helped bury the New York Rangers. Despite coming here with little offensive expectations, he produced when called upon.

After playing off the emotion for the first two months of the season, his production fell off a map. Did that have to do with his illness? I have no idea. However, when asking someone to play a professional hockey season while fighting cancer isn’t exactly fair.

Despite missing games and his late season struggles, Boyle still scored 13 goals, matching the season before in less games. Yes, he did most of this as a big body in front of the net, but something the Devils needed at the time.

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Knowing that Boyle will play this season without fighting a life-threatening illness, and knowing those same motivations won’t be there, what should we expect from him?

Here’s what I’m thinking:

Goals: 14
Assists: 12
Points: 26

Boyle is still getting fourth line minutes, but could be with a much more skilled pairing. He could either be with John Quenneville, Miles Wood or possibly Nick Lappin. It’s much better than the players he was with at times last season, except when he centered Blake Coleman and Stefan Noesen.

Boyle may get less power play time, unless the Devils want to go with the same strategy as last season. That may be true, but either way expect Boyle to be a little more consistent in scoring (maybe 2-3 goals per month). That will end with similar numbers as last year, adjusted to an 78-82 game season.

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