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Dan Boyle vents his frustration.
Posted By Erik Erlendsson at Jul 04, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Updated Jul 04, 2008 at 08:19 PM

Guys, wanted to pass along a couple of comments from my conversation with Dan Boyle. Needless to say, he’s not happy with how the ownership group handled this situation.

I’ll give you two quotes to get you thinking about what will be in the newspaper tomorrow.

“I understand at the end of the day that it’s a business, this is a business. I understand that more than anybody. But there is a way to conduct business, and the way that my situation was handled was absolutely not the way to do it. I, for a long time now, have been under the impression that I was part of this team going forward, wanting input from me on other players, and never in a million years did I think that I was one of the guys that needed to go. Just a few days ago [media were told] that the rumors were a joke, Dan Boyle is going to play 25 minutes, he’s not being traded, he’s not going anywhere. They made it clear that we are not going to go after an offensive-defenseman [in free agency] because we have the best one in the league. Now, going back to business-is-business, when I find out from an absolutely ton of different sources that my [butt] has been on the trading block since I signed the extension, that to me, is not the way you do business. If [they] wanted to get rid of me, let me know. There is a way to do that, it’s been done in the past, just say that “Danny, it’s just not going to work’’ just let me know. And that’s just not the way it’s done. And that really pisses me off.’’

And one more to whet your appetite:

“It got to the point where once it probably a few days ago, when I was threatened, that they just didn’t care and that my [butt] is going to end up on waivers and end up in Atlanta. That’s just not the way you do business. I don’t know if I have too much class or what, because I don’t want to say exactly what was said, but when it gets personal like it did, the line was crossed. When my work ethic is questioned, my off-season work ethic and the way I get ready for games and what I do is questioned, and it gets personal, and I’m threatened, that is absolutely the way not to do business. And I feel sad because I can’t say one thing bad, even with all the ups and downs and battles I had with [former coach John Tortorella], at the end of the day there was respect. In this case I was absolutely blindsided by this whole situation. I know what the response is, that things happen quickly, it’s a business, but that’s not the case when Im told one thing and I find out months later that the complete opposite went on behind my back.’’

UPDATE

In response to Boyle’s comments, here is what co-owners Len Barrie and Oren Koules had to say:

“I think one thing you ask around about my character or Oren’s, we are straight shooters and I’ve never been accused of being nothing but straight,’’ Barrie said. “It’s too bad he feels that way, but if Wayne Gretzky can be traded then Dan Boyle can be traded.

“Dan has been a great player for Tampa Bay, and I played with Dan so that’s why I’ve tried to stay out of it because I really like Dan as a person and as a player. But this was a decision we made to get younger and create some space to pay our forwards what we need to pay. And I think it’s going to be a great trade for both teams.’’

And this from Koules:

“Dan is very passionate about being a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning and that’s something that I will always respect about Dan.’’

Send Us Your Comments

Posted by Bill King, Sarasota on 07/04 at 11:00 PM

Karen: I am in total agreement with you. Send In The Clowns. Maybe Judy Collins should be asked to sing at opening night.

Posted by Jane from DC, washington dc on 07/04 at 10:59 PM

regardless of the fact that the team is better with or without boyle is besides the point. the point is how the situation was handled, which was absolutely terrible. also if you are going to argue that the team had the worst record in the league this past season you must not have been paying attention because Boyle was not playing for the bulk of the season. you cannot seriously pin how poor our play was on him when he wasnt even playing

Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/04 at 10:32 PM

Russell,

There’s no question that the team is better off with the trade than with Boyle. The outrage, at least for my part, is in the classless and despicable way that they treated Boyle in making the trade. I might not have been a big fan of Dan, but he does deserve respect, which the ownership was sadly lacking in.

Posted by Russell, Biloxi,MS on 07/04 at 10:28 PM

I can’t believe the outrage here! Are people forgetting we had the WORST record in hockey last yr.The owners are spending money to try something different.How can U complain? Boyle gave us alot when he was here but this IS a good trade especially when you count the FA’s we got with his money.Good luck Boyle & welcome Carle !

Posted by Cookie, Valrico, FL on 07/04 at 10:22 PM

Dan, you have been a CLASS act on and off the ice. I wish you and your family the very best.I think we all understand hockey is a business but the way this situation has been handled is deplorable. This is not Hollywood Mr. Koules. We do not want smoke screens and special effects. Here, the fans and players alike respect honesty and integrity.

Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/04 at 10:06 PM

In their statement, when they had the opportunity to tell their side of the story, ownership did not indicate that any of your speculation was true. Lacking a denial, one would have to believe that Boyle’s side of the story is accurate. In that case, my comments still stand.

I know that your position is politically correct, but that’s just an excuse for not looking at the facts, as presented. Go back to your romance novels.

Posted by carl, Tampa on 07/04 at 10:00 PM

Well Mike, maybe at the time it was the truth. Maybe when they realized they were getting the #1 overall in the draft they knew they had to find money somewhere when his rookie contract ran out. Maybe they felt that their plan to rebuild would not go as smooth as it did on July 1st. What do you want them to say....hey Dan we love ya and want you here unless this or that happens?

Maybe they did not want to move him until they saw what the Sharks offer was, and then like many of us felt it was a not brainer.

Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/04 at 09:53 PM

The question of ownership exercising it’s right to waive Boyle if Dan is going to be a drama queen about the trade, is not the issue. If ownership told Dan that he definitely would not be traded, then did so behind his back, that’s a lack of integrity.

Misleading the press is OK, as long as it’s not an outright lie, since they sometimes think they are too important. Telling a lie to an employee is never necessary, and is a mark of ownership lacking moral authority to lead.

Those old enough to remember Vietnam will know what fragging was - shooting you officer in charge in the back because he was an ###hole.

Posted by carl, Tampa on 07/04 at 09:46 PM

Is it a threat when someone tells someone else what the outcome is going to be if want to stay? What is so wrong with an owner wanting to exercise an option he/she has if a player says “no”?

OMG if the guy wants he can still keep his house here in Tampa and anywhere else he wants to have one. He is going to be making 6.667 million a year for the next 5 years!

Posted by dale, fl on 07/04 at 09:10 PM

Dan & Brad, you guys are the lucky ones, you got out early.

Marty & Vinny, I hope your loyality isn’t repaid in the same manner. Be carefull, you can’t trust liars. I grew up a Leafs fan, it kills me to say this, maybe you lads would be better off in Habs uniforms.

OK Hockey s~~ks.

Posted by Don in St. Pete, St. Petersburrg on 07/04 at 08:30 PM

Great trade for the Lightning, and a great trade for Danny Boyle and Brad Lukowich. These guys are raving about the opportunity to play in San Jose on the sportsnet.ca site.

Posted by Karen, Tampa on 07/04 at 08:27 PM

Enter stage right: Circus clowns posing as owners of a professional hockey team
Setting: Clowns stick their noses in the business of a team they didn’t own yet and cause great stress and loss of focus. Later, same clowns (read poseurs)fire a Stanley Cup winning coach and hire another clown to coach who has virtually no experience beyond watching alot of games on tv (which most of us non-clowns do as well). Clowns lie to a player who is one of the most valuable players on the team, threaten him , question his work ethic, and tell him if he doesn’t waive his no trade clause they will put him on waivers.
Exit Stage Left: My season tickets. I go to the ICE PALACE to watch hockey...not a circus...and a badly PRODUCED one at that.

Posted by bill53, on 07/04 at 08:23 PM

If Dan thinks this is bad, consider going through all that and then some in Toronto. When the tactics they used on Dan didn’t work on McCabe (who has a no movement clause meaning he can’t be waived), management and the head coach took it to the media and McCabe is getting roasted in the considerably larger Canadian hockey media.

I suspect it’s considerably tougher to get dragged through the mud while this process is strung out and unresolved:
http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2008/07/04/healy-leafs-wont-destroy-mccabes-career/

Either way is not an honorable way to conduct one’s business.

Posted by TampaFan, Tampa on 07/04 at 08:04 PM

As I have been told by an NHL player, hockey like any other professional sport is an ugly business. We may not like what the owners do but if we enjoy the game we have to live with it. I am sorry Dan Boyle got the shaft here, but once again it is a business and there are no promises given anyone. The only thing an owner looks at is the bottom line - should we keep a highly paid player or should we trade him and possibly get 2 good players who will help us win a cup. Good luck to Dan Boyle and his family.

Give the new ownership a chance. Maybe, just maybe something great will happen!!!

Posted by miklb, Tampa on 07/04 at 07:55 PM

If business is business, then you understand that in all sports teams tell the media one thing and do another-be it a smoke screen, or hedging a bet if something falls through.

I’m a big homer, but not sold on the new ownership and their choice of coaches, but I also know this is still just one side of the story, and blog or not, I find it sketchy journalism to post a quote from a disgruntled/upset (ex)player without a response from management.

Boyle was one of several gems the old regime brought in and flourished under Tort’s system. We are not going to be watching that again anytime soon in Tampa, nor can we really judge this deal for several years, considering a top prospect and #1 pick are involved.

Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/04 at 07:44 PM

Being aggressive is a far cry from being a liar. Before I retired, I was often accused of being aggressive, and probably was; but, I didn’t lie to people, whether they were above or below me in the pecking order.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to see Boyel go; but, with these liars, why should anyone trust them. Vinny would be wise to walk away from an unsigned deal while he has the chance. I would love to see Vinny stay for his entire career; but, how can he trust these liars. They’ve proven that they are people without honor.

Posted by Jeff, Palm Bay on 07/04 at 07:36 PM

At the end of the day...Yup it’s buisness. We are fans of the lightning and some of us are happy, some not. It’s done. New owners are aggressive, that’s for sure. Danny B. was not in their plans from day one. If that was clear, we wouldn’t be posting here and he would probably be a little less tense. What will happen. Who knows. OK paid a lot of money and said they would act sooner rather than later. They did that with huge fanfare. All in all I think the Bolts are in a better position to cut the loose ends and get quality players this team needs. Good luck Danny, we’ll miss you. But like other players that we just couldn’t do without, he’ll settle in and so will we. GO BOLTS...One more defenseman and I think we can do it…

Posted by Jeff, Palm Bay on 07/04 at 07:34 PM

Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/04 at 07:32 PM

Scott,

I don’t have much problem with threatening to put Boyle on waivers. Look at the problem that Toronto had last year with prima donna players. I don’t even have a problem with their criticism with Boyle’s work ethic. What I have a problem with is that they lied to him outright.

My father taught me that someone who would lie to you would steal from you. Over my life, I have found that to be true advice. Liars are just dishonorable people to the core. I know that it isn’t politically correct to call someone a liar; however, if they walk and talk like a liar, then they are liars.

Don’t ever trust them to live up to their word, as they have proven that their word is worthless!!!

Posted by Scott, Tampa on 07/04 at 07:14 PM

While I agree that it was wrong if they threatened Boyle with waivers if he didn’t waive his NTC I think questioning his work ethic is a valid point after watching his lackadaisical play on defense. I hope Boyle proves me wrong in San Jose but right now I would question Boyle’s work ethic also and am glad it will not rub off on our younger defensemen.

Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/04 at 07:13 PM

Last year, the Bolts actually played better without Boyle; but, that isn’t the issue in this blog. This is about being honest with the people you deal with. If the owners can’t, or won’t, treat the players with respect and honesty, why should anyone trust anything that they have to say.

I liked Boyle’s comment about Torts. You could have it out with him, but he did treat you with respect. Before I retired, I wasn’t worried about whether people liked me, but was very happy when they respected me. I demanded excellence, but did treat people with respect.

These people are pure bush league.

Posted by John, Tampa on 07/04 at 07:08 PM

I wonder how the OK boys will respond. Any word of a presser to introduce Carle? I hope that EE will ask the tough questions. Good luck EE!

Posted by Bolts fan from DC, washington dc on 07/04 at 07:05 PM

With some of the roster moves and hiring of coaches the owners have done recently I have quickly lost respect for them. I was willing to give the owners a chance but when you get rid of one of our best players especially when you look to see how terrible the lighting played without him it makes me wonder what the owners are smoking or what they are thinking. I have definitely lost complete and utter respect for the owners. I pretty much agree with Boyle about everything that he said about it being a business and that there is a proper way to handle this. I also agree that the owners did not go about it the right way in the least. Danny Good Luck!! I wish you all the best in San Jose and thanks for all that you have done for this team!

Posted by Bill, Tampa on 07/04 at 07:00 PM

What a crock. You do not handle a class act like this. I would not be surprised one bit if the person he is talking about was Barrie.

Posted by Leanmean43, Tampa. FL on 07/04 at 07:00 PM

These owners are a joke!!! This is no way to treat your players, especially a player who helped win the Stanley Cup! Who’s next Marty? I don’t think this team is going to make the playoffs now, Dan Boyle is that important! I’m starting to hate these new owners! Vinny is probably not going to sign now after he sees this B.S!