Ranger Review: Brian Boyle
by Rob L on Apr 30, 2010 7:00 AM EDT
in New York Rangers Analysis
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PrintBrian Boyle became a Ranger late last June in exchange for a 2010 3rd rounder in order to replace former 4th line staple Blair Betts. When he first came here, we heard Brian was big, used to be able to score, and didn't fight or hit despite being big. I didn't really have expectations personally for Boyle seeing as he had been a fourth liner with L.A. before and my general expectations with fourth liners are that if they don't get scored on they are doing their job.
It's hard to judge Boyle personally because like I said fourth liners aren't expected to score. But, in general, I thought Boyle did an OK job (not as well as Betts was doing) while being statistically one of if not the worst forward on the roster that played at least 60 games. He's got a one-way contract worth $ 550,000 next season, so I expect him to be back unless some real desperate team in need of a fourth line plugger offers Sather a first rounder for him (sarcasm ladies and gents).
Join me after the jump for specifics (and video for those non-readers).
What we liked: Boyle is a big body that can win face-offs and block shots. He had a few scraps over the year and was always willing to defend his teammates - something everyone appreciates. He only had four goals all season, but his first as a Ranger was the game winner against his former team. I would show you that if NHL videos was working for my computer, but instead watch him do something he was better at this year as he takes on Zenon Konopka after a questionable hit:
What we didn't like: He isn't as strong of a Penalty Killer as Betts, something I feel that you hold onto when you find it. At Boston College he put up an average of 0.84 points per game over four seasons and in his first full season in the AHL (07-08) he scored 31 goals for 62 points in 70 games with the Manchester Monarchs. Using League Translations Boyle's average point per game season output should be around 0.35 PPG (28 points a season). For some reason, Boyle's game hasn't transitioned to the NHL whatsoever.
To top it off, he was statistically the worst rated Ranger forward. On a similar note his Corsi and Quality figures indicate that he played against and with below average players and when he was on the ice for his limited fourth line minutes the puck was in the Rangers zone for a good amount of time.
Highlight game: The GWG against L.A. ? Seriously besides fights he didn't do much.
Final Thoughts: I expect Boyle to be back next season. He is heading into the prime of his career statistically so I would like to see him get a shot at 3rd line duties to see if he can put up some numbers. Otherwise, Boyle is a good fourth line center and at 550K not a burden on the cap like a couple other Rangers.
So how do you feel about Boyle? Upgrade or Downgrade over Betts after it's all said and done? Sick of me still complaining about Betts (don't answer that one)? Let's hear it.
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Pretty solid take Rob
One quibble: He had a pretty solid PK season, was best on the team in GAON/60 and also had the hardest QC for that matter. (though he wasn’t the best PK’er, that should go to Dubinsky).
I don’t know that Betts could’ve done that much better, Betts in Philly had pretty comparable QC, better teammates, and a worse GAON/60, but the small sample makes it hard to really compare with certainty.
If nothing else, he’s ok in the role he’s in, he should be producing more offense at ES against the competition he’s given, and at 25 he should be getting near a peak. But he’s easily replacable, there are a bunch of guys that can kill penalties in the league.
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Honestly anyone will be a downgrade to Betts when it comes to PK.
I’m not a big fan of Boyle. He doesn’t hit and for his size he HAS to hit being a fourth liner. And yes he fights sometimes but he isn’t a heavyweight. A fourth liner is either an energy guy or a tough guy and he is neither.
It’s almost like he takes up 2 roster spots. He’s a fourth liner who kills penalties (but as Smurf says they are easily filled) and he’s not a heavyweight. Therefore we have to suit up a tough guy.
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He’s not a heavyweight? I think he classifies as super heavyweight. His posted weight is 252, but I’m sure he’s at least 270.
I know he doesn’t fight really, but I would love to see him work hard in the corners and dish out some punishment. It’s kinda sad the way he gets outworked when he should be mowing through guys along the boards. Maybe someone (ala Callahan) will show him how it’s done.
Boyle wasn’t missed at all when he was hurt down the stretch…if anything, the team was better with him out of the lineup. He is a frustrating player, there are flashes of skill that he shows off now and again that could make him into a fairly unique fourth-liner in this league. No way is he a third liner as a center, he’s poor on draws and doesn’t pass all that well. Boyle does have a heavy shot and fairly good stickhandling skills for a huge guy. If he could improve on draws, he would be a much better player than he is right now.
Putting him between Prust and Shelley makes for an interesting experiment. They could make a line that would be unstoppable physically, even with Boyle’s tendency to not take the body enough, and they could drop the gloves with anyone in the NHL with that line on the ice. A little more relentlessness in his game would go a very long way, and probably turn him into the player that some GMs have envisioned.
Prole art threat.
by greifi griffie on Apr 30, 2010 10:56 AM EDT reply actions
Good point
He’s not a center at all really, they should move him to the wing.
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by George E. Ays on Apr 30, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Boyle
Don’t know if he can sustain it but when he skated with AA and Shelley down the stretch, they were a formidable forchecking/energy line that generated scoring chances and softened up the opposition. Its tough to develop skills with limited 4th line minutes and Tortorella’s endless line-juggling, especially on 4th line which he uses to warehouse players in the “chateau bow-wow” (Bring back J.D.!!!) — Lisin, Drury, Brashear, Voros, etc. all spent time on the 4th line this season until Prust & Shelley arrived.
Not the most impressive player, but he plays great on NHL ’10.
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by Bettman's Nightmare on Apr 30, 2010 12:43 PM EDT reply actions
Ha Ha
That’s the only thing that truly matters.
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I think Boyle will get better as his skating gets better. He’s still a little clumsy on his feet, which should be expected from a 6’ 7" forward. He is still young, his development as a physical player/fighter was certainly stunted by playing College Hockey instead of Major Junior.
As his skating gets better he will be able to take the body more forcefully and more consistently. Take a look at his stats at BC and its possible he could even have good enough hands to chip in 10 G and 25 Pts in his best years.
It is a shame that Blair Betts picked up his concussion when he did. Don’t forget the Rangers were not the only team to pass on Betts during the offseason, the entire league passed on him. Surely this was because Betts’ health was a gigantic question mark. The Flyers did not decide to bring him in to camp for a tryout until a week before training camp started. You can not kill the Rangers for deciding to not wait until late September to settle the vital 4th line FW/PK FW role.
The Flyers got lucky with Betts, good for them.
Great guy, hard worker, ultimately very replaceable though. With the strides made by Callahan, Dubinsky and Anisimov the Rangers 09-10 PK certainly did not suffer too much by losing Betts (and Sjostrom).
+1
His skating definitely hurts his game more than anything else. At this point in his career I’d have a hard time believing it can get any better. Does this organization even want to waste any money on a guy who can’t skate and therefore doesn’t have the balance, agility or ability to be able to line up a hit, move side to side, or get to a loose puck, regardless whether it’s 500K or not.
at 500k you could play him in Hartford. Would rather se guys who play with an edge like Dupont, Byers Weise and Newberry get a shot at 3rd/4th lines. Shelley-Dupont-Prust, Byers-Drury-Weise, or Byers Drury Cally. Physical lines like that wear opponents down and you would have guys that like to crash the net, not exactly a strong suit. They all have no problem dropping the gloves and Shelley will teach them how to pick their spots. Prust became a much better player and learned to pick his spots after Shelley came over. Would like to see the pk forwards come from 3rd and 4th lines and pp be intact 1st and 2nd lines.
Agreed
I don’t think we will go anywhere next season. I wouldn’t mind missing the playoffs again if we concentrate on developing our young players and saving cap space for the future.
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by 76 Blueshirt on May 1, 2010 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Brian Boyle is just one more....
….guy who plays below his size and doesn’t have half the presence along the boards as, say, Ryan Callahan whose fully half his size. When Boyle stepped into the lineup in the final games of the year due to injuries – you know, the games where our season was on the line – he was a non-factor. Just look at teams like the Red Wings and the Canucks – they don’t have guys who play below their size, who they HOPE contribute, who SHOULD be good…I’m so sick of it man…really…….enough is enough with these cast-offs from other teams. I had Boyle pegged from day one. You see, teams don’t let guys his age and size walk away unless they’re useless. And Brian Boyle is useless.
Yeah Boyle being out of the lineup helped us create that stretch run. Hes really a waste of a roster spot.
by CrazyRangerFan on May 1, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Transition him to Defense...
I would sit down with him during this offseason and talk about the possibility of transitioning him to defense. From what I understand, he used to play the position so it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch. He could work hard at it and give us the “Jeff Beukeboom” type defenseman that we have sorely missed for many years.
he played some D at BC. I forget where I read it, I think LA tried that already and it wasnt working so they abandoned the project.
by Kmp on May 1, 2010 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions
found it, it was hockeyfuture.com 07-08
2007-08: Boyle began the season on the blueline for Manchester but struggled greatly to pick up the nuances of defensive positioning and skating. While he had no troubles finding the back of the net, especially on the power play where he resumed his traditional center position, Boyle was a liability defensively as quicker and more skilled forwards routinely had the extra gear to get past him for break-away scoring opportunities. With a move back to his natural position, Boyle enjoyed a renaissance of sorts. The goals began to come in bunches and Manchester would reap the benefits in the standings as a result. Consequently, Boyle enjoyed his first taste of Los Angeles and exceeded all expectations with three points in his first two games.
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