New Jersey Devils: Brian Boyle Has Major Impact In Short Time

Brian Boyle was a member of the New Jersey Devils for less than 20 short months. He signed as a free agent in 2017, yet somehow it feels like he was a lifelong Devil. The impact he made both on and off the ice is second to none. He was a very good bottom six player on the ice and a tremendous leader off it.

Before he ever played a single game for New Jersey, he was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and the entire outlook of the team changed. They were a team with low expectations. They were not even expected to come close to a playoff spot, but they rallied and got there with the help and inspiration of Brian Boyle.

Boyle’s cancer was a treatable form luckily, but it is always something that is a scary situation. Boyle, however, did not complain or feel sorry for himself. Instead, he rallied the troops and helped everyone be at their best. Everyone knew the Brian Boyle story and it helped turn the 2017-18 New Jersey Devils into an unexpected playoff team.

Anyone who ever has to deal with something like cancer knows that it is not easy. Anyone who is struggling with it should look at the Brian Boyle story and gain positive thoughts from the way he handled it. It is not an easy thing and everyone needs a little inspiration and Boyle gave us all just that.

Boyle’s impact certainly was felt off the ice, and his impact on the ice was certainly a plus as well. He played good enough combined with his story to be selected as Taylor Hall‘s replacement in the 2018 NHL All-Star Game.  He scored goals often in clutch situations. He was a great faceoff man and played on both the penalty kill and the power play.

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Boyle was traded to Nashville for a second-round pick on Wednesday. That is a good trade for both teams in terms of value. Nashville is getting themselves a great guy and an impactful bottom six forward. He will definitely help them put their best foot forward in a real chance to make a deep run at the Stanley Cup. The Devils meanwhile are going to get that second-round draft pick so it is up to the scouting department to help Ray Shero make a smart and impactful selection.

They 2018-19 Devils are a huge disappointment, and it is not cool that it had to be this way, but there is definitely a chance that general manager Ray Shero tried to get Brian Boyle back in the mix on July 1st as he will be an unrestricted free agent again. He is definitely the type of guy you want as a leader of men on a very young team. That is how much of an impact he had.

If he does not come back in free agency, then the New Jersey Devils fans should remember Boyle fondly and remember the impact and inspiration that he was. We will never forget him and wish him tremendous luck with the Nashville Predators.