Jun 11, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center
Brian Boyle(22) chases after the puck with Los Angeles Kings center
Anze Kopitar(11) during the first period in game four of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Lightning has made their second splash of free agency as they have signed forward Brian Boyle.
Can confirm that Brian Boyle got three years from #TBLightning.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2014
The value of the contract is $6 million, so Boyle will count on average $2 million a season against the salary cap.
The gritty centerman figures to fit in on the Bolts 3rd and 4th line after the trade of Nate Thompson to Anaheim Sunday night. Boyle won 52.9 per cent of faceoffs during the 2013-14 season.
He also had 154 hits and blocked 54 shots this past season. He stands 6-feet-7 and weights 244 lbs.
Boyle has spent the last five seasons with the New York Rangers after spending his first two years in the league with the Los Angeles Kings.
In 391 regular season games, he has 100 points (52-48) and has added 19 points in 58 playoff appearances. He’s also wracked up 311 penalty minutes in the regular season and seven fights.
Boyle becomes the second former Ranger the Lightning have signed today after inking defenseman Anton Stralman to a five-year deal earlier in the day.
The Lightning also announced that they have signed forward Mike Blunden and re-signed Syracuse Crunch captain Mike Angelidis.