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Got the chance to speak to Dan Boyle this morning and the one thing that is clear is that he has no intentions of leaving Tampa anytime soon.
It’s been a mad couple of days for Boyle as he’s had to deal with his name popping up in just about every rumor mill out there these days, and as I’ve said, where there’s smoke there is fire. Boyle did not want to discuss whether he has been contacted about waiving his no-trade clause because that’s a pretty sensitive issue right now, and I completely understand.
So I asked him that if he were to be asked to waive his no-trade clause, what would his reaction be, and here’s his answer:
“As I stand here today, and I’m out on my back porch, I want to be in Tampa. I don’t have any intention of waving my no-trade clause as I stand here today. I don’t plan on waiving it,’’ he said.
Another strong comment from him: “When I signed my contract, I did it because I wanted to stay in Tampa. I played in Florida, but I feel Tampa is really where I started my career. I can’t ask for more than to want to play for the city and play for the jersey.’’
Boyle said he has a pretty good idea of what is going on with everything right now, but he didn’t want to delve into the subject.
But here is something for you guys to ponder as you mull over exactly what the situation could turn into.
It’s obvious that Boyle doesn’t want to leave. It sounds like it’s obvious new ownership wants to shed salary. And I think what is starting to develop here is to opposing forces playing a game of chicken. And the thing that I’ve learned about chicken, it’s a dangerous game that can leave nothing but shattered pieces of rubble in its path.
Here’s what seems is about to happen: Boyle doesn’t want to leave (that’s his right when he signed his contract). Ownership wants to cut payroll and his $6 million-plus contract is an easy target.
So what’s the option if both sides decide to dig in their heels? Chew on this one and let me (and both parties) know what you think here. The Lightning could place Boyle on waivers knowing full well that some team would pick him up in a heartbeat and that would certainly solve their salary issue.
But were that to happen, one of the top defensemen in the game would have been let go for nothing - NOTHING - in return.
I’ve said this at length the past couple of days, Dan Boyle is one of the top defensemen in the game. There are few players who can do what he does, there are few players who provide the dynamic that he brings to the ice for 25-30 minutes a night. And I know he has his detractors out there, to which I say, be careful what you ask for because you won’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. And the way it looks like now, you would lose that element on the team without any compensation in return.
And I’m going to tell you right now, that would be a monument mistake. For all the good that Oren Koules and Len Barrie have done in the past few days upgrading the team, losing Boyle for nothing would wipe all of that out. Even trading him, in my opinion, would be a mistake, but at least there would be a return that you could point to in that scenario.
If you still question what Boyle means to this team, just look at the team when he was out of the lineup last season. No other defenseman was capable of getting the team’s transition game going. And no other defensemen (and few in the league) are capable of carrying the puck up the ice like Boyle. He is a valuable asset and if he is let go purely for a salary dump, then it will mark a Neil Armstrong leap backwards to erase all the steps forward they have made to make the Lightning a competitive team again.
UPDATE
Here’s another thought I had in thinking about the waiver issue. First off all, kudos to you guys who answered the question about not being responsible for Boyle’s salary if he’s picked up waivers on the way down. You guys have got to be the smartest fan base I’ve ever dealt with 
Now, here’s my thought on the waiver issue. It might just be a strong-arm tactic on the ownership’s part. If you use the threat of waiving him, you take away the control he has in regards to where he will end up. I’m almost positive the first team that had the chance to acquire Boyle would do so (I think that would be Los Angeles based on last year’s standings). But, if you tell him that these are the teams that we have discussed, where would you like to go, then Boyle has at least some control of the situation.
This is something, again, I don’t agree with. This is not a fantasy league and I don’t think it’s the right way to go about business. Dan Boyle has won a Stanley Cup with this franchise. He has twice taken less than market value in order to stay in Tampa. I just don’t think that’s the right way to go about business with a player who has displayed that type of loyalty, even if that loyalty was to Jay Feaster and the rest of the former management group.
Posted by Carson Brawley, Lakeland on 07/03 at 09:01 PM
I think the new ownership needs to rethink even latting Boyle go! What are they thinking he has been the backbone (when not injured) of their blue line and can score from almost anywhere on the ice. Just cause he had a fluke happen him last season doesn’t mean they should trde him.
Posted by d.park, lakeland on 07/03 at 07:50 PM
hey having been an x seasons ticket holder and had some hockey playing and coaching experience i say dan must stay in tampa players like him are few and far between also not a big fan of melrose etc lets see what they can do cant be worst than last 2 years lets not forget the change in hockey drives me crazzzy too manyblind mice back to dan he is as important to tampa on d as vinny
Posted by Scott, San Jose, CA on 07/03 at 06:53 PM
Come to San Jose. Help us win the Cup. It’s nice and warm here like Tampa, but no humidity.
Posted by David R, Tampa, FL on 07/03 at 06:00 PM
Why does everybody seem to hate on Kuba?? All year long! 6 Goals and 25 points is pretty remarkable for a solid defense-oriented D-man!! I completely agree that we can afford to lose Gratton, Ward, and Karlsson and possibly even Oullet (even though he is still young) to keep the Boyler, but the only way I’d want to see Kuba gone is if we had to to keep Boyle.
Also, what happened to Matthieu Darche?? I can plainly see that he is not the most skilled player, but he played with more heart than any other player this entire year (even at the end of a horrible, league-last campaign). I would’ve liked to see him given at least a chance, but hopefully he’ll end up with another team in an NHL uniform this year!
Posted by Geografer, Spokane, WA on 07/03 at 04:09 PM
Mark - the CBA does not allow for reopening or renegotiating contracts. This is not an option. Fact is if it was he would be entitled to way more money with another team if he waives. He took a “hometown” discount on this contract. Don’t agree? Look at some of the other deals that just got signed. He could have gotten even more on Tuesday than what he signed here. Ottawa actually offered Campbell $7 million a season and he ended up with even more in Chicago. I will take Danny over Campbell.
Posted by Mark H, Lutz, FL on 07/03 at 03:57 PM
Umm… why hasn’t anybody said anything about RENEGOTIATING his contract ?
If he REALLY wants to stay here, give up some of that precious salary.
Just an idea…
Posted by Dustin Keene, Tampa, FL on 07/03 at 03:44 PM
Continued… As the other people stated in the group, there are plenty of other players we can let go in order to create cap space such as Kuba, Ward, and Gratton. As much as I love Grats and his true love for Tampa just like Boyle the absolute love for the Bolts, he is late in his career and no one knows what will happen with his recent injury. So we’ve made 15 big strides with all the additions, lets not take 20 huge strides back by trading or waiving Boyle.
Posted by Dustin Keene, Tampa, FL on 07/03 at 03:43 PM
Erik I could have not have said it better myself. To lose Boyle or to so much get rid of him in the sense of what the new owners are ultimately trying to do to free up cap space is absolutely absurd. I would go out on a limb here to say that Boyle is one of the best defensemen in the league. He may not check like Pronger or Phaneuf but he is 10 times smarter with the puck then both of them combined. He is a one of a kind player and as you stated, for the money he is making here he could make WAY more some where else for sure. Dan only wants to play here and that is what counts, this is where his heart is. Continued…
Posted by Robb, Tampa, Florida on 07/03 at 03:36 PM
Trading Dan Boyle is a huge mistake, hasn’t Jay Fester done enough in sending Brad Richards to Dallas for whats his name Mike Smith I forgot his name becuase of how he sucked he is not the answer at goal, but that’s not the reason for this blog comment. Trading Boyle is a huge mistake get rid of (Gratton Ward, Jokinen, Ouellet, and Hall) I do like ward but he is expandable as for Gratton I agree with everyone he never did have the passion for playing with the Lighting so why keep him. If they get rid of Boyle Fester and the new ownership will loose alot of fan support in their actions
Posted by Chris Arnold, St Pete, FL on 07/03 at 01:59 PM
What team are you watching? Gratton has never been a passionate Lightning player??? That’s probably the dumbest and most uninformed comment I’ve ever read regarding the Lightning.
Posted by Bill, Sarasota on 07/03 at 01:36 PM
I agree with most of the folks here, let’s lose Kuba, Ward and a couple of the other less skilled (productive) people and reduce the amount of $$$$ spend. Gratton has never been a passionate lightning player. He has demonstrated his own selfish interests. Let’s get a another good defenceman. Keep Boyle!! He is loved, by most of the fans and his teammates.
Posted by Geografer, Spokane, WA on 07/03 at 12:28 PM
No - but he is still on the header once you get to the website.
Posted by Derek H, Tampa, FL on 07/03 at 12:27 PM
Noticed on new lightning web site, splash screen intro does NOT have Boyle’s name on it…
Posted by David, Tampa on 07/03 at 12:19 PM
Anyone you disagrees with trading BOYLE please feel free to do what I just did and fill out a player appearance request for BOYLE to appear at Sp. times forum all regular season. Link is http://lightning.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=8903 Little something we can do and maybe they will get the picture that trading BOYLE is not the way to go.
Posted by Geografer, Spokane, WA on 07/03 at 12:19 PM
Times is reporting that he and his agent have officially been asked to waive the no-trade. I hope to heck that Danny is screaming NO to them even as I type.
This is just wrong wrong wrong. OK was involved in this contract (even though they didn’t and still don’t actually own the team). How you can think it is okay to do this is beyond me. They have lost all crediability with their fans and their players.
Posted by michael aquilino, New Tampa on 07/03 at 12:19 PM
Erik-let me start out by saying for a life long hockey fan like myself your accurate info and insight on the lighting during the change in ownership and the player and free agent moves has been outstanding.What Dan Boyle brings to this organization as a player is 25-30 mins a game a great point man on the power play and the purfect defenceman in a 4 on 4 in ot.I personally think trading Boyle would be a big step backwards in getting the Lighting back to where they want to be.
Posted by BOLTS RULE !!!!, Tampa on 07/03 at 12:06 PM
If they did drop Boyle, I think that would destroy any credibility that they have with the fans, they have done well so far and gotten help and good talent. Yes I would have like to have seen a defensemen or two taken, but I do like the offense they building.
Until they do something like what you are proposing I am keeping the management at their word, but to drop a player in this way is disgraceful to business and the player. I want to think that the owners are better than that, I will wait and see what happens. I do hope Boyle is in a Bolt sweater for the fall, and maybe has a couple of newer defensemen, we will just have to wait and see what transpires, we got a lot of offensive talent, can we trade one for a defensemen?
Posted by Mario Crociata, Jionesboro, Arkansas on 07/03 at 11:53 AM
Trade Kuba, Ward, and Karlsson. Don’t resign Gratton (replace with another “widebody” checking forward). This saves between 5 and 6 million. Kuba is no loss and Ward and Karlsson are pieces we can find for less. Your 4 lines are intact and your defensive pairings are solid. With a new “take the body” attitude on defense and the forwards assuming more responsibility on “D”, we are in great shape. Trade for draft picks to stock the minors, and then wait and see if anybody clears waivers at the end of training camp. Even replacing the three forwards for 1-1.5 MIL still leaves us a savings of 3.5-4.5MIL, leaving Boyle’s cost at 1.5-2.5 per year. Where do you get a comparable “quarterback” for less?
Posted by Chris Arnold, St Pete, FL on 07/03 at 11:45 AM
Thanks for the update EE. In my opinion, this is the first real mistake by the new group. Boyle has been and will continue to be essential to this team’s success. It seems that they must have contacted him in some way and asked him to waive the no trade or he would just squash those rumors and that’s upsetting. This would be less offensive as a fan if OK Hockey hadn’t commented on these rumors twice and said there was no way they’d move Boyle. I’d prefer ownership who said no comment over ownership telling us lies. If he’s gone in any way I’ll be upset but if he’s somehow moved and we get nothing in return other than the salary dump that would be completely unacceptable.
Posted by Steve M, on 07/03 at 11:33 AM
We wouldn’t be on the hook for any of his salary if he’s claimed on waivers. It’s only if clears waivers then is put on re-entry waivers that we’d be responsible for 1/2 of his salary, but he never make it to that point. He would certainly be claimed on waivers. If we have to get rid of him, and I don’t think we should, he’d be better off picking his destination (and we’d get something in return via a trade) as opposed to being claimed on waivers and having no say in it.
Posted by Ruthe Robertson, St Petersburg on 07/03 at 11:17 AM
Erik, forgot to mention on Wyshynski’s (Puck Daddy on Yahoo) blog he mentions your comments reference Boyle and says you rock.
Posted by Geografer, Spokane, WA on 07/03 at 11:16 AM
We are only responsible for half the salary if he is claimed on the way back up. On the way down whomever were to take him (and it would be LA as they are first in line) is responsible for all the salary.
Posted by Geografer, Spokane, WA on 07/03 at 11:15 AM
Way to go Danny - JUST SAY NO! Ownership is as stupid as many were afraid they were coming in if they try to do this. There are plenty of other ways to shed salary (Kuba, Ward, Jokinen, Ouellet, Hall) other than get rid of the best puck moving d-man in the league.
Posted by bill, Tampa on 07/03 at 11:13 AM
EE, if they waive him does that really solve the problem as would we still not be on the hook of half the salary per the CBA?
WW
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Posted by Tom C, Dunedin on 07/03 at 11:03 PM
This is what i feared the most with the new owners. Just like teenagers with their first credit card. They charged it to the max before they realized it was over the limit. They signed way too many forwards/centers. Dan Boyle plays decent defense and skates and passes like the wind! Thats why he got the big money contract back in february. Koules and Barrie(the new owners), their reach has exceeded their grasp. I hope Boyle doesnt waive his no trade clause. He’s loved and revered here in Tampa and still is in the prime of his career.....one of the hardest workers on the team. These new owners need a reality check before they totally screw this team up.