Brad Boyes hoping for continued success in second year with Panthers
When Brad Boyes joined the Florida Panthers on a tryout basis during last year's training camp, little was expected of the 32-year-old veteran attempting to join his fourth team in five years.
Now, one year later, Boyes has returned to training camp as the team's leading goal scorer with a contract that will keep him in Sunrise until 2016.
The first player on the ice when the Panthers kicked off camp on Sept. 19, a visually eager Boyes is happy to no longer be an NHL nomad.
"I've been down here for a few weeks now instead of scrambling around like last year," Boyes said. "I'm not stuck in a hotel anymore, so I'm more settled. It's nice to come down and see the guys I played with last year so there's camaraderie there. Coming into the year, this has been easier. I'm more comfortable in this setting that I was last year."
Signed to a two-year, $5.25 million contract on March 4, Boyes finished last season with 21 goals and 36 points in 78 games for the offensively challenged Panthers.
If the Panthers hope to contend in the Eastern Conference this season, Boyes know that his stick will have to be hot yet again.
"Whether we have five 50-goal scorers or one 20-goal scorer, I have to do what I do," Boyes said. "I understand that's my role and I have to do more whether I'm looked at to score more than others or not. If we need a goal, I want to be the guy to be out there to get it."
Taking some of the scoring pressure off Boyes this season will be veteran forward Jussi Jokinen. Signed as free agent during the organization's offseason spending spree, Jokinen notched 21 goals and 57 points in 81 games with Pittsburgh last season.
Like Boyes, Jokinen is also considered to be one of the league's best in the shootout, a place the Panthers find themselves often, having competed in 14 shootouts during the 2013-14 regular season.
One of the NHL's premier shootout specialists, Boyes scored six goals on 10 attempts last season and improved to 37-for-80 (46.2 percent) in his career. Jokinen, meanwhile, scored two game-deciding goals for Pittsburgh in shootouts last season.
When asked who was more deadly in shootouts, Boyes wasn't quick to hand over the title to his new teammate.
"Me. Right?" Boyes joked. "He's good, he's actually really good."
Having spent the majority of last season on a top line consisting of himself, rookie Aleksander Barkov and veteran forward Sean Bergenheim -- affectionately dubbed the "Killer B's" line -- Boyes isn't worried where veteran additions like Jokinen will have him lining up during the upcoming season.
"I've been kind of shifted around a little bit, so I'm not quite sure where I'm going to slot in," Boyes said. "When we start cutting it down we'll get more of an idea, but right now I think coaches are just looking to see what guys are gelling. Myself, I played with a few guys last year that we did well so maybe they've got that to fall back on."
A versatile forward who could line up anywhere from the third to first line come the team's opening night matchup with Tampa Bay on Oct. 9, another quality season from Boyes will be a key factor in the Panthers push to return to the postseason.
You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.
