Quote:
Originally Posted by mrjimmyg89
Boyle is on a top 5 PK team and plays the most PK min/g of any forward on the team. To say he's not a GREAt PKer isn't doing him enough justice. Boyle also gets matched up with the other team's best line the majority of the time, and is on a team that is near the top in goals allowed (least allowed). I do't like him on the 3rd line either, but to say these things about him and calling him an awful player do him no justice. His first year here, he was awful. NOW, he's one of the better 4th liners in the league. He's a smart player, covering for the D when the pinch, and is a calming force in the defensive end. I really don't think you're giving Boyle a fair shake. If you are expecting him to score a bunch like last season, forget about your expectations of the guy. He's a prototypical 4th line NHL center on a GOOD team.
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Calming force on the defensive end? You mean when he gets sucked into half wall and can't turn to cover the slot. Or how about when he gets sucked into the corners, and Feds has to haul his butt to cover Boyle's man? Or when Boyle gets trapped in the offensive zone when he loses the puck along the half wall and Prust has to race up ice for him to take away the middle from the puck carrier(because atleast he has the wheels to do so). Or they just get completely trapped like on the second goal last night. I have almost never seen Boyle cover a Dman pinching(which doesn't require some sort of amazing hockey IQ).
I do not expect him to score goals. I have given up on him being stalwart offensively since the second half of the last season. But this illusion where he is this amazing defensive forward is baffling to me.
I said he was good Pker but that does not make one a good defensive forward five on five. On the Pk Boyle has learned how to use his size in order to stack the slot in the box. He also blocks shots well. But on even strength, he does not have the skating ability to cover the large areas of ice he is responsible for. His two wings cover A TON of his shortcomings.
I know people like Boyle, he seems like he is a nice guy. I will never question his effort or intentions. I think he is probably the one of the hardest working player on the team. But he is what he is. He doesn't have enough physical tools to be a great 4th liner either. How many times do I have to see 6'7 player get outmuscled by 5'10 wing to know he probably isn't that overpowering?