Brian Boyle, at 6-foot-7 and 244 pounds, is a giant of a man, but his signing by Tampa last summer was not a big story.
Perhaps it should have been. The center has been a spark for the Lightning both during the regular season and the playoffs, according to NHL.com.
Statistically speaking, Boyle is a face-off master, with a 50.6 playoff face-off win percentage and a mammoth 64.3 road face-off win percentage. He is one of the best penalty killers for the Lightning and can play on the blue line when necessary.
Boyle has also earned enough respect in his first season with the team to become one of the biggest leaders in the locker room. According to NHL.com, Boyle was one of the players selected to speak to the team ahead of Game 7 against the Red Wings, and Boyle also provided perspective after the team's win, reminding the Lightning that it was just the first step on a long journey.
"We lean on Brian a lot and he has to do several things for us," Lightning coach Jon Cooper told NHL.com. "He's asked to be a penalty-killer, he's asked to win faceoffs, and we need those things out of him even more in the playoffs. I don't think you can put a value on what he means to this group."
(h/t NHL)
Photo by Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
