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The trade:
Our thoughts:
Todd Cordell
I really like this deal for both teams.
Boyle is a massive upgrade over what the Leafs had at the 4th line center position. He will help them in the faceoff circle (overrated but still a nice benefit), on the penalty kill and he'll provide a lot more offense than the likes of Ben Smith and Frederik Gauthier would. The cost was not a big concern given the abundance of young players and draft picks the Leafs have. It's clear Byron Froese wasn't in their plans so losing him isn't exactly devastating.
For the Bolts, they acquired a 2nd round pick for a player they couldn't keep around given the cap crunch they're going to face in the off-season. Perhaps Froese can also be a low-cost 4th line player for them moving forward.
Adam French
I don't mind the move. Especially if they can retain him. Brian Boyle is a vastly superior player to the cavalcade of mediocrity that has blessed the Leafs fourth line centre position.
Ben Smith, The Goat, Peter Holland, Byron Froese or Brooks Laich. All have or could have played that role. Smith is garbage, Gauthier is not ready, Holland was putrid, Froese is an AHLer and Laich is never getting out of the AHL prison cell he shares with Michalek.
Babcock has said on numerous occasions that all he cares about for the fourth line is that they win face-offs, battle on the boards and can contribute on the penalty kill. That is Boyle.
The Leafs (when healthy) now have arguably the best centre depth in the Atlantic. Weird I know...but hear me out Boston fans getting their torches.
Matthews (30g 24a 54p)
Kadri (25g 22a 47p)
Bozak (14g 25a 39p)
Boyle (13g 9a 22p)
Boyle has a ton of playoff experience and it makes sense that a team whose "veterans" don't even combined to match Boyle's playoff games totals, would want a guy that has been there so often.
Also the price? A second rounder? That's fine. In the past two drafts they've picked twenty times. Four times in the second round. They have two other seconds in 2017 as well. So the price is pretty much null in my opinion.
I like the deal, especially if they can sign him to a reasonable deal.
James Tanner
I am a huge fan of this acquisition. The Leafs have run out a collection of terrible players at 4C and if Babcock isn't willing to play an offensive player in that role, then I like this quite a bit.
The cost is minimal since the Leafs had 3x 2nd rounders. They get a guy with a ton of playoff experience for a team with none (not sure that matters much, but it can't hurt).
Boyle is usually a positive possession player and he makes the team better. What's not to like?
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