News:Dan Boyle assisted on both San Jose goals in regulation Thursday in a double-overtime Game 1 win over St. Louis.
Analysis:Dan Boyle's been a big part of the Sharks' postseason offense overtheir last two seasons, picking up 30 points in 33 games, and it appears he's right back where he left off. Some guys are just playoff performers.
News: Despite possessing what he describes as "the worst backhand in the league," Dan Boyle tossed a backhander past Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick in overtime Saturday, giving the Sharks the seventh playoff seed in the Western Conference. It was his second goal of the night.
Analysis: He led all San Jose rearguards with 48 points (9G, 39A) this season. If your playoff pool is goals-only, you can safely forget about him. If it's more comprehensive than that, you might consider taking him for a position on your blue line, depending on how you like the Sharks' chances against the Blues. (We advise considerable caution on this last count.)
News:Dan Boyle had a pair of second period assists in Monday night's 5-1 victory over the Avalanche.
Analysis:Dan Boyle also finished plus-3 on the night as the Sharks picked up a crucial victory over the Avalanche. With six games remaining and a tight race for the playoffs, expect Boyle to play a big role for the Sharks.
News:Dan Boyle picked up an assist in Monday's victory over the Capitals.
Analysis:Dan Boyle missed some action last week while battling the flu, but he has played in each of the Sharks' last three games, totaling two points and four PIM over that span. Boyle is currently tied for seventh among all NHL defensemen with 26 assists.
News:Dan Boyle (flu) missed practice Thursday as he continues to battle the flu, CSN's Brodie Brazil reports.
Analysis:Dan Boyle is still day-to-day and at this point is questionable for Friday's game versus Chicago.
News:Dan Boyle was a late scratch for Wednesday game against the Flames because of the flu, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: The Sharks certainly could have use their headliner blueliner, as they fell to underdog Calgary. San Jose is back at it Friday against Chicago, so he'll have about two days to kick the bug and be ready to return to action.
News:Dan Boyle has been playing with a broken foot since mid November, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: This would help explain some of the turnovers and defensive misplays that have occurred in the past month. Look for the statistics to improve as the injury improves.
News:Dan Boyle scored a goal -- his first since Nov. 7 -- and added a power-play assist in Tuesday's shootout loss to Colorado. He also went plus-2.
Analysis: It's been tough sledding for Dan Boyle this year, as the goal was only the second of the season for a guy who's piled up 40 markers from the blue line over the last three years. Perhaps snapping the drought will get him going in the right direction.
News:Dan Boyle was whistled for three two-minute minor penalties in Wednesday's win over Chicago.
Analysis: Only one of the minors was for what you'd call physical play; the others were for tripping and delay of game. But the six PIMs in your column will help anyway. With 32 PIMs in 19 games, he trails only Ryan Clowe among Sharks skaters; that and his offensive ability from the blue line make him among the league's more valuable fantasy rearguards.
News:Dan Boyle managed to be on the ice for all three of Phoenix's goals in a 3-0 loss Saturday, giving him his first minus-3 night of the season.
Analysis: Don't let one bad outing dissuade you from starting him at every opportunity. He plays like an extra forward, and that's pure gold in every fantasy format that requires you to start a specific number of blueliners.
News:Dan Boyle picked up a power-play goal and an assist Monday against Los Angeles. He also led the Sharks with seven shots on goal.
Analysis: This was Dan Boyle's first goal of the season, but given his skills and the team he plays for, he still should be one of the better scoring blueliners this season.
News:Dan Boyle played Saturday's game while feeling under the weather, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis:Dan Boyle logged a season-low 21:16 on ice on Saturday and it can be attributed to him not feeling 100 percent. Look for him to return to his team lead in that department as soon this blows over, as it appears it's nothing to be concerned about.
News:Dan Boyle pitched in a goal Thursday against the Canucks, helping the Sharks stay unbeaten after five preseason games, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis:Dan Boyle has registered at least 50 points in three straight seasons and finds himself at the forefront of a new-look defense in San Jose, highlighted by the offseason acquisition of Brent Burns. Fantasy owners will likely have to pay a high premium to secure the services of Boyle, one of the league's top power-play quarterbacks.
News: Boyle notched 16 points (4 G, 12 A) in the Sharks' postseason campaign, which came to an end Tuesday night after a 3-2 double overtime loss to the Canucks.
Analysis: Boyle chronically cracked the box score throughout the playoffs, though his minus-7 rating tells us that he was on the ice for his fair share of goals by opposing teams. Still, few defensemen are as dangerous with the puck as Boyle, who should be picked early on in drafts next fantasy season.
News: Boyle notched two assists in Thursday's Game 7 win over the Wings, including one on a spectacular pass through a defender's legs to Devin Setoguchi, whose rebound was then put home by Patrick Marleau for the eventual game-winner.
Analysis: Boyle's nifty passing as well as his heavy hitting and defense earned him first star honors and helped win his team a ticket to the conference finals, where they'll face the Canucks. After a weak series against the Kings, Boyle turned it on big-time against Detroit, collecting eight points in the series.
News: Boyle picked up two assists in Game One versus Detroit.
Analysis: Boyle had stated earlier this week that he didn't play well during the Sharks playoff victory over Los Angeles, well he certainly played well in the first game against Detroit.
Sharks' Boyle Reflects On Quarterfinal Performance
News: Boyle acknowledged that he played poorly in the quarterfinal series against the Kings, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Said Boyle, "I can't really explain it. Sometimes you go through phases in a season where you're not playing well and I just happened to go through that at the worst time. You name it – I missed passes, made bad decisions and compounded one after another. I just wasn't very good." Boyle went minus-1 and assisted three times in the six-game series. Even though Boyle's performance in the quarterfinals did not meet his own standards, he remains a quality choice for fantasy leaguers in playoff pools.
News: Boyle notched two helpers in the Sharks' thrilling 6-5 overtime win over the Kings on Tuesday evening.
Analysis: Boyle went without a point in the first two games of the all-California series, but perhaps Tuesday's performance will be the start of something good for Boyle, who registered 50 points (9 G, 41 A) in the regular season.
News: Boyle triggered the goal siren Wednesday, but the Sharks were lit up by the Ducks, 6-2.
Analysis: Boyle has three goals in the past five games, but only nine total in 2010-11. Still, given that he's a defenseman, it's hard to argue with his turning up 50 points in 74 games.
News: Boyle opened the scoring for the Sharks in Thursday night's 6-0 win over the Stars.
Analysis: Boyle finished with 15 goals last season, but he's only at seven scores with five games left on the regular-season schedule. He remains an asset in most formats, but compared to last season, Boyle's numbers are down in plenty of statistical categories including, but not limited to: points (45), plus/minus (plus-1), and penalty minutes (44).
News: Boyle skated a full complement of 25 shifts in Saturday's win over the Blues, showing little or no effects from a fall he suffered Thursday. He contributed two assists to the winning effort.
Analysis: His goal-scoring is off this year, but he continues to pile up assists, with seven in his last seven contests; he's within reach of his career best (43, most recently last season). We recommend that you keep him active for the reminder of the Sharks' regular season.
News: Boyle practiced Friday despite taking a bad fall in Thursday's game against Minnesota, and said "I can play," in Saturday's game against the Blues, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: The exact nature of Boyle's injury is unclear, but based on his own admission and his ability to practice Friday, it doesn't appear that his undisclosed injury will keep him out Saturday.
News: Boyle (upper body) celebrated his return to the ice Saturday against the Rangers by assisting on both San Jose goals, including one on the power play. His ledger stands at 6-33-39 on the campaign.
Analysis: He skated 26 shifts; it appears that his injury has healed. At this point in the season, 50 points would be a stretch, but he could reach it with a strong run over the last month of the season.
News: Boyle (upper body) will be a game-time decision Saturday against the Rangers, CSN's Brodie Brazil reports.
Analysis: Boyle has not played since Feb. 23, but he wants to end that absence Saturday. "If it was up to me, I'd like to play," Boyle said. The Sharks will make a decision on Boyle's status before the start of Saturday's game at 10:30 p.m. ET.
News: Following Thursday's morning skate, Boyle (upper body) said he was shooting the puck more, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: The Sharks have been without Boyle for the past six games, including Thursday night's 5-4 SO loss to Vancouver. Circle back for more information on the fantasy stud before Saturday evening, when the Sharks host the Rangers.
News: Boyle (upper body) appears to be targeting Saturday for his return to the lineup, Brodie Brazil of CSN Bay Area reports.
Analysis: It's purely speculation at this point, but don't expect to see Boyle on the ice for Thursday's game against Vancouver.
News: Boyle (upper body) is out for Thursday's game against the Canucks, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: It's safe to leave Boyle out of fantasy lineups in daily leagues ahead of Thursday's game. But Brodie Brazil of CSN Bay Area speculates that the star defenseman could be targeting Saturday for his return to the lineup.
News: Boyle (upper body) endured a long practice Wednesday, but his status for Thursday's contest against the Canucks is not clear at this point, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Boyle reportedly stayed on the ice longer than his fellow Sharks in practice. Said Boyle,"It's definitely getting close. Obviously me skating with the team is a good sign. It's just one of those injuries where I have to be really careful and not take two steps back." It seems that the blueliner is simply being extra cautious with this injury. Keep viewing him as day-to-day.
News: Boyle (upper body) won't play Tuesday against Nashville, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: He worked out on the ice Tuesday morning while getting in extra conditioning and puck-handling to help make up for the long layoff. Boyle remains day-to-day at this time.
News: Boyle (upper body) is not likely to play Tuesday night against the Predators, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Boyle, who has not seen game ice in nearly two weeks, reportedly skated Monday, albeit only with other injured Sharks. Expect defensemen like Ian White, Justin Braun and Jason Demers to see bigger roles than normal as long as Boyle is out of action.
News: Boyle (upper body) is still not practicing with the Sharks, though he remains "day-to-day," the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: As noted in the report by the Mercury News, Boyle missed Saturday's loss to the Stars, the fourth game that he's missed as a result of the ailment. He will have a couple more days to heal before the Sharks host the Predators on Tuesday.
News: Boyle (upper body) won't play Saturday against the Stars, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Boyle remains in the day-to-day category heading into Tuesday's game against Nashville.
News: Boyle (upper body) won't play against Detroit on Thursday, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Boyle was on the ice before the Sharks' optional morning skate Thursday, but he hasn't had a full practice since suffering an upper body injury Feb. 23.
News: Boyle (undisclosed injury) is questionable for Thursday's home game against the Red Wings, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Boyle has been held out the past two games, and the report notes that he was only able to skate briefly in Wednesday's practice. Expect the Sharks to be smart about Boyle and his injury. After all, he is the team's top creator of offense from the blue line and the player who averages the most ice time per game (26:44 TOI/G) for Team Teal.
News: Boyle (undisclosed injury) skated before the Sharks' full practice started Wednesday, then left the ice, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: That said, coach Todd McLellan didn't rule out the possibility that Boyle may play against Detroit on Thursday.
News: Boyle (undisclosed injury) will not play Tuesday against the Avalanche, the Sharks' official site reports.
Analysis: Coach Todd McLellan indicated Tuesday that Boyle remains day-to-day.
News: Boyle (undisclosed) did not skate in practice Monday, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Boyle is still in recovery mode following his injury sustained in last Wednesday's win over the Penguins. Given that he has no timetable for his return, it's a gamble to start Boyle in fantasy leagues at this time.
News: Boyle (undisclosed injury) did not skate Sunday, but is feeling better and is listed as day-to-day, the Sharks' official site reports.
Analysis: We'll track Boyle's status leading up to the Sharks' next game, Tuesday against Colorado. Boyle missed his first game of the season Friday against Calgary due to his undisclosed injury.
News: Contrary to earlier report, Boyle (undisclosed injury) will not play Friday against Calgary, the Sharks' official site reports.
Analysis: Given the lack of information we have about his "undisclosed injury," it's difficult to predict when Boyle might return, but the fact that he had a chance to play Friday, coupled with the Sharks' upcoming three-day break, leads us to believe he has a good chance to play Tuesday against Colorado.
News: Boyle (undisclosed) is expected to be in the lineup Friday night against the Flames, per Sharks coach Todd McLellelan, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Boyle reportedly underwent treatments Thursday, and while he is not guaranteed to suit up Friday night, it sounds like he will be able to play. The Sharks have reeled off five consecutive wins and now sit in first place in the Pacific Division, with Boyle playing a significant role as the team's top offensive-minded defenseman.
News: Boyle suffered an undisclosed injury in Wednesday's win over the Penguins, FearTheFin.com reports.
Analysis: Boyle appeared to get hurt on the Penguins' game-tying goal with less than a minute left in the third period. He played through the overtime period, but appeared to be laboring.
News: Boyle put the puck past Michal Neuvirth in the Sharks' 2-0 win over Washington on Tuesday.
Analysis: Even though his scoring is down a bit this year, Boyle is on pace for 54 points by season's end. That level of production should place him among the elite blueliners in fantasy hockey.
News: Boyle currently leads all NHL skaters in ice time. He averages just over 27 minutes on the ice each game.
Analysis: The Sharks have just one defender with more than 15 points, and that is Boyle. Fortunately for Team Teal, he is a playmaker who makes good use of the heavy playing time. In 49 games, Boyle has five goals and 27 assists.
News: Boyle was the only Shark selected to play in this year's NHL All-Star game, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Boyle is currently 10th in points among NHL defensemen with 29 (5 G, 24 A). He's especially valuable in fantasy hockey because of his 4:54 average of power-play ice time per game.
News: Boyle was able to play against the Kings on Monday despite a recent bout with the flu. He recorded close to 25 minutes of ice time in the 4-0 loss.
Analysis: Boyle went minus-2, but the same can be said for a number of Sharks' skaters following Monday's game. Continue to treat Boyle as a top defenseman in most fantasy leagues.
News: Boyle is dealing with the flu, which caused him to miss Sunday's skate, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: The report includes speculation that Boyle should be able to play Monday against the Kings, assuming the illness does not get worse. Monitor this situation carefully because even the chance of the star blueliner being out is probably enough to make Boyle owners sick themselves.
News: Boyle set off the goal siren on the man advantage Tuesday in a 2-1 win over Edmonton.
Analysis: This proved to be the game-winning goal for Boyle, who now sports 24 points in 34 contests. His offensive prowess is unmatched by most blueliners across the league.
News: Boyle continues to score like a forward; he pocketed two assists in the Sharks' 4-1 win at St. Louis on Saturday night, giving him 20 helpers on the campaign.
Analysis: As we've mentioned before, if your league requires you to start defensemen, offensive-minded rearguards like Boyle are more valuable than are forwards who score at the same pace. If you're lucky enough to own him, keep him in your lineup.
News: Boyle is on track for 46 assists this season, which would stand as a career high if he can maintain this pace.
Analysis: Boyle has a knack for playmaking on the back end. If you own this defenseman in fantasy leagues, you may have noticed that half of his 20 points this season have come on the man advantage as an added bonus. Considering his yearly point totals typically resemble that of a forward, Boyle should be locked into your lineup.
News: Boyle registered his 14th assist of the season Friday in a 6-1 loss to the Canucks.
Analysis: His secondary assist was hardly noticeable among all of those goals scored against Team Teal on Friday, but it does serve as a reminder that Boyle is an excellent fantasy option on the blue line. Currently, only six defensemen have more helpers than Boyle.
News: Boyle tallied in a 4-3 overtime loss in Colorado.
Analysis: Boyle's goal was his third of the season and he continues to be an elite fantasy option on the blue line with 14 points in 17 games.
News: Boyle pocketed two assists and a plus-3 rating in San Jose's 5-2 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday night.
Analysis: He's up to nine points in 12 games, a pace many left wings would envy. Boyle is one of those particularly valuable rearguards who score like a forwards. Given the concept of position scarcity, he's actually more valuable than a forward with identical numbers.
News: Boyle's average ice time of 27:32 after three games is third highest in the NHL.
Analysis: Boyle, who sees plenty of game action as a power-play quarterback, is averaging better than five minutes more than Patrick Marleau, the next highest Sharks skater in the TOI category. With so much time being active on the rink, Boyle gets many opportunities to produce robust offensive totals on a consistent basis. He's a no-brainer option to anchor your fantasy defense.
Sharks' Boyle Stuns German Crowd With Game-Winning Goal
News: Boyle had the game-winning goal in Saturday's 3-2 shootout win against the Adler Eagles of Germany for the Sharks' final exhibition game.
Analysis: Boyle remains one of the league's top offensive producers from the blue line. He's particularly golden on the man advantage, as his 29 power-play points put him fourth among league defensemen last season. Only Mike Green, Drew Doughty and Sergei Gonchar had more.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle tallied three assists and finished at plus-1 during Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Red Wings. He has produced two goals and nine points in seven playoff games.
Analysis: After his fifth season of 50-plus points, should we expect anything else from Boyle in the postseason? We think not. This guy has been producing for years in the NHL and about the only thing to slow him down is injury. Boyle will remain an elite Fantasy blueliner on Draft Day 2010.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored a goal and finished at plus-1 on Monday against the Maple Leafs. Boyle tied the game at 1 as his 11th goal eluded Jean-Sebastien Giguere early in the second period. It was his third goal in eight games.
Analysis: Boyle returned to the lineup on Saturday against Nashville after missing six games with an upper-body injury. San Jose was right to sit Boyle despite Fantasy owners missing his presence. But he is already back to his old tricks and remains a must-start Fantasy option.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle returned to action Saturday following a six-game absence (upper body).
Analysis: The Sharks were surely taking things cautiously with their super-stud offensive blue-liner, as Boyle is a huge part of their success. Get him back active in all Fantasy formats for Week 19 (Feb. 8-14).
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle (upper body) missed his sixth straight game on Thursday against the Blues. He remains day to day.
Analysis: Boyle has been practicing and traveling with the Sharks, so his return appears impending. Keep tabs on his progress leading up to Week 19 (Feb. 8-14). Boyle would like to play some before heading to the Olympics. He is a must-start Fantasy option when healthy.
News: The Alton Telegraph reports that Sharks D Dan Boyle (upper body) will not play at St. Louis on Thursday.
Analysis: Boyle has been out for more than two weeks now, but the Sharks certainly don't want to take any risks with their elite offensive defenseman. Fantasy owners would love to have him for Fantasy Week 19 (Feb. 8-14), as San Jose plays four times, but if Boyle remains out on Saturday at Nashville then they will have a very difficult lineup decision to make. Is Team Canada getting a little worried at this point, or are they having a word in San Jose's ear?
News: San Jose D Dan Boyle continues to deal with an upper body issue and the flu and was scratched on Tuesday against the Red Wings.
Analysis: Boyle has been out since Jan. 19, and as one of the NHL's elite offensive defensemen his presence has been missed immensely by Fantasy owners. Hopefully he will be back in action sometime this week, so keep an eye on Boyle's progress.
News: The Sharks' official web site reports that Sharks D Dan Boyle (upper body, flu) will be a game-time decision for Tuesday's contest vs. Detroit.
Analysis: Boyle has been out since Jan. 19, and as one of the NHL's elite offensive defensemen his presence has been missed immensely by Fantasy owners. Hopefully he will be back in action sometime this week, so keep an eye on Boyle's progress.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports defenseman Dan Boyle (upper body) practiced on Monday, while fellow blueliner Marc-Edouard Vlasic (lower body) did not. Nothing further was discussed on their injuries. The Sharks list both as questionable for Tuesday against the Red Wings.
Analysis: The Sharks have managed to get by without Boyle in the lineup, so you have to think they will keep him out as long as he needs. Boyle is actually hurt and not just nursing a minor ailment. Keep tabs on his progress through Week 18 (Feb. 1-7). Boyle is a high-end Fantasy option when healthy.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle missed Saturday's win over the Wild with an upper-body injury. He has now missed four straight games.
Analysis: The Sharks have been doing just fine without Boyle, and so you have to think they're in no need to rush their stud offensive blue-liner back until he's completely ready. He will be a risky start for Fantasy Week 18 (Feb. 1-7) unless we hear something about his status before Monday's lineup deadline.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports Sharks D Dan Boyle (upper body) was at practice on Friday. However, he didn't declare himself ready to play on Saturday against the Wild after missing the last three games. "It's not one of those things where I'm holding back," Boyle said. "The bottom line is I can't go. If I could go, I'd be playing."
Analysis: It doesn't sound as though Boyle will be active on Saturday, and he added he isn't pushing himself even with Marc-Edouard Vlasic joining the ranks of the walking wounder with a lower-body injury. San Jose needs Boyle for the long run, so the more rest he gets now the better. Boyle remains a nice Fantasy start when healthy as premier offensive blueliner.
News: Defenseman Dan Boyle missed his third straight game for the San Jose Sharks because of an undisclosed upper body injury, as he sat out Thursday night's game against Chicago. The Sharks had been hoping to have their top scoring defenseman back for the matchup between the top two teams in the Western Conference, but he was ruled out at the morning skate. San Jose called up defenseman Jason Demers from Worcester of the AHL to play against the Blackhawks. The Sharks also called up Logan Couture from Worcester.
Analysis: Boyle is a member of the Canadian Olympic team. He leads Sharks defensemen with 43 points. San Jose believed a week off would be enough to get Boyle back in the lineup, but unfortunately it was not. San Jose really has to look at the fact they can afford to be without Boyle for a few more games but not weeks, so being cautious is the best approach. Boyle remains a nice Fantasy start when healthy as premier offensive blueliner.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports Sharks D Dan Boyle is no longer probable for Thursday's game against the Blackhawks as he recovers from an upper-body injury. Coach Todd McLellan and the front office have yet to decide if they need to recall someone from the minors, but sources tell the Mercury News that it does look as though Boyle might sit for a third game.
Analysis: It seems a week off might not be long enough for Boyle. This is the risk involved with starting an injury player in Fantasy. Anything can happen. San Jose really has to look at the fact they can afford to be without Boyle for a few more games but not weeks. Boyle remains a nice Fantasy start when healthy as premier offensive blueliner.
News: NHL.com reports Sharks D Dan Boyle was on the ice Monday for his expected return on Thursday against the Blackhawks. Boyle has missed the last two games because of an upper-body injury and the flu. "He skated (Monday) and we expect him to be back (Thursday)," coach Todd McLellan said.
Analysis: The Sharks figured Boyle would only be out a week and it looks as though their expectations will be correct. The only speculation was that Boyle might have suffered a hand injury after mixing it up with the Kings' Dustin Brown on Wednesday, but at least the injury doesn't appear to be a long-term issue. Boyle remains a nice Fantasy start when healthy as premier offensive blueliner.
News: As expected, Sharks D Dan Boyle (upper body, flu) sat out Saturday's game vs. Buffalo. He should return on Thursday vs. Chicago.
Analysis: Boyle is usually a must-start option in all Fantasy formats, but the Sharks play only twice in Fantasy Week 17 (Jan. 25-31). Still, with the way San Jose can rack up the goals, Boyle will still be worth using in most leagues.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports that Sharks D Dan Boyle is also battling the flu at the same time he has an upper-body injury. Boyle has already been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Sabres, however, it is believed Boyle will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Blackhawks.
Analysis: The Sharks always contended that Boyle wasn't expected to miss much time, and with four days off after Saturday's contest, it was the perfect time to give him a little extra rest. Boyle does appear to be a low-risk start for Week 17 (Jan. 25-31). He is one of the NHL's premier offensive blueliners and a solid Fantasy option when healthy.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle was scratched on Thursday against the Ducks because of an upper-body injury, reports the San Jose Mercury News. Boyle is also considered doubtful for Saturday against the Sabres. Boyle and coach Todd McLellan were vague about the details of the injury. Jason Demers was summoned from Worcester of the AHL and Benn Ferriero was sent down to the minors.
Analysis: Boyle admitted he played banged up on Tuesday against the Kings, when he had one goal and two assists. However, he played only 17 minutes and usually plays 20-plus a night. Although no details were divulged, both Boyle and McLellan feel this is a minor issue and the All-Star blueliner should return shortly. Boyle does appear to be a low-risk start for Week 17 (Jan. 25-31). Boyle is one of the NHL's premier offensive blueliners and a solid Fantasy option when healthy.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Sharks D Dan Boyle scored a goal and added two assists on Tuesday against Los Angeles to improve his season totals to three goals and eight points in six games against the Kings.
Analysis: Boyle has two goals and nine assists in his last eight games. Even when he isn't playing the Kings, Boyle is getting the job done for San Jose. Boyle is one of the NHL's premier offensive blueliners and a solid Fantasy option.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored one goal and assisted on the other in San Jose's 2-1 win over the Kings on Monday night.
Analysis: Boyle is up to 36 points on the season and should be able to set new marks in assists and points this season. He remains a must-start Fantasy blue-liner in all formats.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored a goal and finished at minus-1 on Thursday against the Coyotes. Boyle tied it at 2 with a power-play goal with 14:31 left, taking a blind pass from Ryane Clowe on the right doorstep and squeezing a shot between Ilya Bryzgalov's glove and the right post. It was his eighth goal and first goal in nine games.
Analysis: Boyle received a scare in mid-December when he had to leave a game with an undisclosed injury, but it proved to be nothing serious and Boyle remained in the lineup. He continues to dress as one of the NHL's best offensive blueliners. As long as he is healthy, Boyle remains a must-start Fantasy option.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle was able to play on Thursday against the Ducks after leaving Saturday's game with an undisclosed injury. He tallied an assist and finished at plus-2 in 25:29 of ice time. Boyle has one goal and four assists during a five-game point streak.
Analysis: It seems the long layoff helped Boyle make a quick recovery and avoid a trip to IR. The fact he tallied an assist and spent 25 minutes on the ice Thursday also indicates he is likely past his undisclosed ailment. Keep Boyle active in all Fantasy formats for Week 12 (Dec. 21-27). He is a high-end Fantasy blueliner.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports that Sharks D Dan Boyle has been listed as day-to-day by the team with an undisclosed injury. Boyle was driven into the boards by Coyotes forward Taylor Pyatt on Saturday.
Analysis: The Sharks don't play again until Thursday against the Ducks, so Boyle will have some time to rest. In fact, the Sharks play only once during Fantasy Week 11 (Dec. 14-20), so maybe this is as good as time as any for Boyle to get injured for Fantasy purposes since there was a good chance you were going to sit him anyway. We just hope it is a minor ailment and nothing long term like the wrist issue Boyle dealt with in Tampa Bay a few seasons ago. Boyle has been great since joining San Jose last season and remains a must-start Fantasy option when healthy, but you're better off just benching him for this week.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Sharks D Dan Boyle was injured late in Saturday's game against Phoenix, but no one was giving up the nature or extent of the injury. "We're looking at him now," coach Todd McLellan said. "We'll see. It's way too quick." Boyle skated exactly 29 minutes and had an assist to extend his current scoring streak to four straight games (one goal, three assists).
Analysis: The Sharks don't play again until Thursday against the Ducks, so Boyle will have some time to rest. In fact, the Sharks play only once during Week 11 (Dec. 14-20), so maybe this is as good as time as any for Boyle to get injured for Fantasy purposes since there was a good chance you were going to sit him anyway. We just hope it is a minor ailment and nothing long term like the wrist issue Boyle dealt with in Tampa Bay a few seasons ago. Boyle has been great since joining San Jose last season and remains a must-start Fantasy option when healthy.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle was injured late in Saturday's loss to the Coyotes, but D Todd McLellan provided no details on the issue.
Analysis: Boyle is one of the premier offensive blueliners in the NHL, so his presence would be missed greatly in Fantasy if he's out for any period of time. Luckily, the Sharks only play twice in Fantasy Week 11 (Dec. 14-20), so owners won't feel too bad if they have to bench him for the scoring period.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored a goal during Wednesday's game against the Kings. Boyle brought Los Angeles within 1 at 4-3 as he beat Erik Ersberg on a wrist shot 12:38 into the second period. Boyle has two goals in his last five games and seven on the season.
Analysis: Boyle is up to 26 points in 32 games. He is still one of the premier offensive blueliners in the NHL. He gave us a scare a few years back after he accidentally sliced his wrist open with the blade of his skate, but Boyle has bounced back in a big way. He remains a must-start Fantasy option.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored his second goal of Fantasy Week 8 (Nov. 23-29) as San Jose defeated the Canucks on Sunday.
Analysis: Boyle continues to pick up points at a solid pace and remains a must-start Fantasy defenseman in all formats.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle made it back-to-back multi-point games Tuesday when he scored, assisted and finished with a plus-2 rating in a win over the Predators.
Analysis: Boyle now has five points in his last four games and continues to rack up the points at a forward's pace. Continue to roll with him in all Fantasy formats.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored, assisted and finished with a plus-3 rating in Saturday's win over the Penguins.
Analysis: Boyle has 16 points in 18 games this season and remains an elite Fantasy defenseman.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored his second goal of the season Thursday in a 5-2 loss to the Lightning, but finished with a disappointing minus-3 rating.
Analysis: Boyle finished with just a plus-6 rating last season with San Jose, and is always focused more on his offensive game than his defensive responsibilities. Still, he remains a must-start Fantasy option in all formats.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle picked up a goal and two assists in Thursday's win over the Blue Jackets.
Analysis: Boyle has been an elite Fantasy defenseman since breaking out with 53 points in 2002-03. He should be in line for another great year in 2009-10 with the Sharks, so continue to use him in all Fantasy formats.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle tallied a pair of assists and finished at even during Sunday's game against the Ducks. Boyle has two goals and three assists during a four-game point streak.
Analysis: While Boyle hasn't been much of a scorer in the second half, he hasn't totally been useless down the stretch. He does have nine assists in his last 15 games. Boyle continues to be one of the premier offensive defenseman in the NHL and a high-end Fantasy option as long as he is healthy.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored a goal and finished at even during Monday's game against the Flames. San Jose took advantage of an early two-man advantage after Adrian Aucoin's clearing attempt went over the glass for an automatic delay of game penalty. Just 35 seconds later, Joe Thornton found Boyle with a centering pass and Boyle fired a slap shot into the top corner to put the Sharks up 1-0 at 6:11 of the first period. It was his 15th goal and first score in 22 games.
Analysis: While Boyle hasn't been much of a scorer lately, he still came into Monday's game with seven assists in March. Boyle continues to be one of the premier offensive defenseman in the NHL and a high-end Fantasy option as long as he is healthy.
News: Sharks All-Star D Dan Boyle returned to the lineup Tuesday against the Oilers after missing Sunday's game at New Jersey with the flu. He failed to record a point in 22:01 of ice time, but finished at plus-1 and spent two minutes in the penalty box.
Analysis: Boyle has racked up one goal and three assists in his last five games. He has been battling the flu for a couple of days, but it is behind him. Boyle has made a seamless transition from Tampa Bay to San Jose in 2008-09 and remains a high-end Fantasy option.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle returned to practice Tuesday after missing one game with the flu and will return to the lineup against the Oilers.
Analysis: Boyle has racked up one goal and three assists in his last four games. He has been battling the flu for a couple of days, but it appears he is ready to go. Boyle has made a seamless transition from Tampa Bay to San Jose in 2008-09 and remains a high-end Fantasy option.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports Sharks D Dan Boyle missed Sunday's game against the Devils because of the flu. Boyle wasn't expected to be in Friday's lineup against the Sabres either, but played and totaled two points (one goal).
Analysis: It's unfortunate that the flu finally put Boyle in the press box, but at least he is not suffering from a setback with the wrist injury he aggravated during the All-Star break. Boyle is a low-risk start heading into Week 20 (Feb. 16-22). He has made a seamless transition from Tampa Bay to San Jose in 2008-09 and remains a high-end Fantasy option.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle came into Friday's game against the Sabres as doubtful with the flu, but he managed to play through the ailment and was highly effective. The All-Star defenseman scored a goal, tallied an assist and finished at plus-2 in 24:36 of ice time. Boyle scored his 14th goal on a snap shot past Ryan Miller 19:08 into the second period. He has one goal and three assists in five games since returning from a wrist injury.
Analysis: Boyle needed a few games to recover from a nagging wrist injury, but since his return he has been as effective as he was in the first half of the season. Boyle is one of the NHL's top offensive defenders and remains a must-start Fantasy option through thick and thin.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports that Sharks D Dan Boyle is doubtful for Friday's game against the Sabres with the flu.
Analysis: Boyle has 40 points this season and is on pace for a fourth 50-point campaign. A must-start Fantasy option when healthy, Boyle should be OK for Fantasy Week 20 (Feb. 16-22), but you will want to keep an eye on his status over the weekend.
News: Defenseman Dan Boyle returned to the Sharks' lineup Thursday against the Hurricanes after missing three games to rest a wrist injury that popped up before January's All-Star break. He didn't record a point in 29:41 of ice time and finished at minus-2. Boyle took six shots in the game and almost scored a goal late in the third period. But it was reviewed upstairs and called a no-goal.
Analysis: Boyle dealt with a wrist injury in 2007-08 as a result of getting cut by a skate, so hearing the All-Star battle more wrist problems in 2008-09 is cause for concern. But the two injuries seem unrelated at this time. Boyle has had a solid first season with San Jose and remains a must-start Fantasy option when healthy.
News: According to the San Jose Mercury News, Sharks D Dan Boyle skated on Friday but did not play in Saturday's game against the Blackhawks. "I don't feel as good as I like," Boyle said. "But I'm hoping the rest starts to pay off. I hate when I miss games. At the same time, we've got a great team with a lot of depth. So we have to be smart about injuries."
Analysis: The Sharks are in the driver's seat in the Western Conference right now, so there's no real need to rush Boyle back into the Sharks' lineup as it is more important for them to have him healthy later in the season. That's now what Fantasy owners want to hear as Boyle is one of the best defensemen in the league. The Sharks don't play again until Thursday, so he could end up playing in that game, but it's a risk. Start Boyle at your own risk this week but if you have a comparable option, go with that.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle sat out another game due to an upper body injury he sustained in the NHL All-Star game. Not much is known about Boyle's injury and he is listed as day to day.
Analysis: Fantasy owners that started Boyle this week have to be pulling their hair out that he isn't playing this week as he is currently active in 92-percent of leagues. He will hopefully be back for the upcoming scoring period because he is one of the best players on most owners' teams that have him. Pay close attention to his status on Saturday, especially if he doesn't play.
News:The Mercury News reports Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle was not in the lineup Tuesday against the Avalanche after tweaking an upper-body injury in Sunday's All-Star game. Sharks coach Todd McLellan offered little on Boyle's injury and said he was day-to-day.
Analysis: A Sharks representative said Boyle's injury was not a serious problem and that the All-Star defenseman could be back Thursday when San Jose faces Phoenix at home. Well, talk is cheap, so we won't buy into the hoopla until we see Boyle back on the ice. He missed a lot of time in 2007-08 because of a fluke wrist injury. Boyle is not becoming an injury-prone player and still remains a must-start Fantasy option when healthy.
News: Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle had a goal, assist and plus-1 rating during Sunday's All-Star game. Both points came in the second period as the Western Conference scored six times.
Analysis: It's hard to imagine with as much success as Boyle has had in his career that this year was his first All-Star appearance. He has hesitant to make the move out west to San Jose, but has settled into his new home and is loving life on and off the ice. Boyle is a top offensive threat for one of the best teams in the NHL and a must-start Fantasy option.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored and assisted in Saturday's win over the Red Wings, giving him a second straight two-point game.
Analysis: Boyle is hitting all on cylinders heading into the All-Star game. He has always been a solid offensive blue liner, but looks like a 60-point threat again now that he is being coached by Todd McLellan. Boyle remains a must-start Fantasy option.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle had a pair of assists and finished at plus-1 in 31:32 of ice time Thursday against the Flames. Boyle has a point in five of six games. He has one goal and five assists in that span.
Analysis: Boyle made it to 36 points Thursday and is hitting all on cylinders heading into the All-Star game. He has always been a solid offensive blue liner, but looks like a 60-point threat again now that he is being coached by Todd McLellan. Boyle remains a must-start Fantasy option.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle recorded an assist during Friday's game against the Oilers. He has two goals and five assists in his last eight games.
Analysis: Boyle is headed to the All-Star game and with good reason. He is tied among defensemen with 33 points and has been as good as any blue liner in the NHL. Boyle is well on his way to having a 50-point season and remains a must-start Fantasy option.
News: All it takes is one look at the NHL standings to know that defenseman Dan Boyle is very happy to be with the high-flying San Jose Sharks instead of the lowly Tampa Bay Lightning. Boyle made a big commitment to the Lightning by signing a six-year, $40-million contract extension just before last season's trade deadline, giving up his chance at free agency to stick with the club as it tried to rebuild. Tampa Bay finished with the worst record in the NHL, yet it's the place Boyle wanted to be. He even got a no-trade clause put into the deal to ensure he couldn't be sent away without his permission. When the sale of the Lightning was completed over the summer, Boyle's big contract was one new owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie looked to shed. Enter the Sharks, who needed to retool after yet another early playoff ouster. San Jose had already inked veteran defenseman Rob Blake to bolster the blue line, and then moved to add Boyle, too. While he wasn't pleased at the time, Boyle feels much better now that the Sharks have jumped to a 23-3-2 mark. The bad taste is long gone. "No, not anymore," Boyle said with a laugh. "At the time I just signed a six-year extension, was planning to be there for a while. But certainly having seen the way some guys have been treated and what's gone on so far, and the way on top of it I've been treated here, I have no regrets whatsoever."
Analysis: Boyle has taken notice of the club that has hit hard times since he and the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004. "I'm only human, right?" he said. "I definitely feel bad for some of the guys I played with. I'm sad for the fans because they had built that organization to what it was. Now to see what's happening out there, it's probably more sad than anything for me because I still think it's a great place to play and it's very unfortunate that all this stuff is going on." It's quite a different scene in San Jose. "I certainly didn't want to be somewhere, stuck somewhere where I was going to be in possibly a losing situation on most nights," Boyle said. "I knew I was coming to a good team. Certainly the talk is getting to the playoffs and getting on to the next round." Boyle has been great for San Jose and is no ordinary defenseman. He seemingly plays all over the ice and that helps him get on the stat sheet more often than not. Feel free to keep the happy Boyle active in all Fantasy formats.
News: D Dan Boyle became the first Sharks defenseman to reach double-figures in goal-scoring since Matt Carle scored 11 in 2006-07 with his 10th goal Saturday night against the Oilers. The Sharks finally broke through on the power play when Boyle slipped a 35-foot backhand from the corner under Dwayne Roloson's left pad and off the back of his other leg with 5.5 seconds left in the period. He has scored four goals in his last five games.
Analysis: Boyle has managed 24 points thus far in his first season with the Sharks and has contributed four power-play scores. He is the type of offensive defenseman coach Todd McLellan needs and Boyle is quickly turning into one of the NHL's premier defenders. Continue to start him in all Fantasy formats.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored his ninth goal of the season Tuesday in a win over the Maple Leafs. He is now only one goal behind Shea Weber for the top-scoring defenseman in the NHL.
Analysis: Boyle is one of the NHL's top offensive defenseman and is playing on the best team in the league. Continue to start Boyle in all Fantasy formats.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle had two goals in Friday's game at Dallas, giving him three straight games with a point. He has scored at least one point in seven of his last eight games.
Analysis: Boyle also has served penalties in each of his last two games, which is great in leagues that reward PIM. He has always been one of the NHL's top offensive defenseman, but now he is paired with power-play guru Todd McLellan and the sky is the limit. Continue to start Boyle in all Fantasy formats.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle dished out three assists for the second time in four games Saturday as San Jose blasted the Caps 7-2.
Analysis: Boyle has 10 points in his last six games. He has always been one of the NHL's top offensive defenseman, but now he is paired with power-play guru Todd McLellan and the sky is the limit. Continue to start Boyle in all Fantasy formats.
News:Dan Boyle scored two power-play goals for the Sharks, who went 4-for-6 with the man advantage during a 6-5 win Sunday against the Blackhawks. Boyle made it 3-2 with a power-play goal at 5:51 of the second period, scored on a one-time shot from just outside the crease. Boyle's second power-play score, a minute into the third, tied it at 5.
Analysis: Boyle now has four goals and three assists during a four-game point streak. He has three power-play goals and seven power-play points this season. Boyle has always been one of the NHL's top offensive defenseman, but now he is paired with power-play guru Todd McLellan and the sky is the limit. Continue to start Boyle in all Fantasy formats.
News:Milan Michalek and Joe Pavelski scored two goals apiece, and the San Jose Sharks' defense corps set a franchise record with nine assists in a 6-1 victory against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. Defensemen Christian Ehrhoff, Rob Blake and Dan Boyle had three assists apiece as the Sharks embarrassed the Flames, who couldn't keep up with San Jose's relentless approach under new coach Todd McLellan.
Analysis: Boyle was back in the lineup after a one-game absence for the birth of his first child. He now has two goals and three assists during a three-game point streak after not getting a point in his previous four games. Boyle has 14 points in 17 games this season. He is still one of the top offensive defenseman in the NHL and remains a must-start Fantasy option.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored in a second straight game Sunday as San Jose fell to the Coyotes.
Analysis: Boyle has 11 points already this season and appears on pace to produce somewhere in the high 50s this season. That makes him a must-start Fantasy forward in all formats.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored the opening goal during Saturday's 2-1 win against the Stars. Boyle got San Jose's first goal in the opening period on two sharp setup passes from Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, who crisscrossed the puck through Dallas' defense before Thornton fed Boyle for his third goal of the season. It was Boyle's first point in five games and first goal since Oct. 22.
Analysis: Boyle had been in a mini-point slump before helping in the win Saturday. He now has 10 points and a plus-7 rating in his first 15 games with San Jose. He is still one of the top offensive defenseman in the NHL and remains a must-start Fantasy option.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle scored a goal and finished at minus-2 in 24:18 of ice time Wednesday against the Flyers. Boyle broke a 4-4 tie at 12:52 of the second period when he picked up a loose puck during a scramble to the side of the net and swept it past Martin Biron for his second goal in as many games.
Analysis: Boyle has two goals and four assists in his first seven games with the Sharks. Boyle is extremely happy in his first year with the Sharks and is showing point-per-game potential. Continue to start him in all Fantasy formats.
News:Dan Boyle scored on a sublime setup pass from Joe Thornton 85 seconds into overtime, and San Jose rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 5-4 victory over Philadelphia on Saturday night, keeping the Flyers winless. Boyle had a goal and two assists in his most productive game since joining the Sharks in a summer trade with Tampa Bay. The veteran defenseman acknowledged being a bit tight during his first few weeks in San Jose, but his first goal for the Sharks was among the simplest of his career. "I knew who I was out there with," Boyle said. "It's 4-on-4 (in overtime), and there was a lot of room. Joe made a great play, and it was an open net. It was pretty easy. You've got to get open when he's got the puck."
Analysis: Thornton, the former NHL scoring champion, collected the puck and avoided two defenders before putting it on the tape of Boyle, who hit an open net. "As long as I'm getting chances, I'm happy, and I've been getting a lot of chances," said Boyle, who has five points in six games. "But it's nice when it goes in there, because that starts to kind of get to you after a while. I'm just glad I could chip in there and help out." Fantasy owners are also over the moon when Boyle is happy and scoring since he is an elite Fantasy defenseman. Continue to start him in all Fantasy formats.
News: Sharks D Dan Boyle made his regular-season debut for San Jose during Thursday's 4-1 win against the Ducks. He quarterbacked the power play and also had one assist in 25:18 of ice time. He took two shots on goal.
Analysis: Boyle moved the puck with the flair he perfected during his lengthy stay in Tampa Bay. San Jose hopes Boyle will be its long-sought answer to Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer, whose puck-moving skills and clever defense have bedeviled the Sharks for years. Sharks head coach Todd McLellan is a power-play whiz and that should only help Boyle, who remains a must-start Fantasy option.
News:Dan Boyle scored the go-ahead goal and Evgeni Nabokov made 16 saves as the San Jose Sharks beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 in a preseason game on Friday night. Boyle, the high-scoring defenseman who was the Sharks' main offseason acquisition, scored 33 seconds into the third period.
Analysis: Boyle is expected to open the season in a defensive pairing with Christian Ehrhoff. Boyle missed a ton of time last season after injuring his wrist when a skate fell on it, but he is one of the better offensive blue-liners in the league and should thrive in San Jose. He might eventually be paired with veteran Rob Blake, but no matter who he skates with, Boyle will be a key offensive player for San Jose. Consider him a must-have Fantasy defenseman.
News: The San Jose Mercury News reports that new Sharks head coach Todd McLellan has released his first depth chart for the 2008-09 season. The first two lines are comprised of Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe as wingers on the top line with Joe Thornton in the center, and Joe Pavelski has drawn the role of second-line center with Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo as his wingers. On defense, Marc-Edouard Vlasic is with Rob Blake, and Christian Ehrhoff is playing alongside Dan Boyle.
Analysis: Boyle missed a ton of time last season after injuring his wrist when a skate fell on it, but he is one of the better offensive blue-liners in the league and should thrive in San Jose. He might eventually be paired with Blake, but no matter who he skates with, Boyle will be a key offensive player for San Jose. Consider him a must-have Fantasy defenseman.
News: The San Jose Sharks acquired D Dan Boyle from Tampa Bay in a four-player deal Friday, trading D Matt Carle and top prospect Ty Wishart to the Lightning to add their second star defenseman in two days. The Sharks also picked up veteran D Brad Lukowich, one of Boyle's closest friends, while giving up a first-round pick in 2009 and a fourth-round choice in 2010.
Analysis: Boyle missed a ton of time last season after injuring his wrist when a skate fell on it, but he is one of the better offensive blue-liners in the league and should thrive in San Jose. Consider him low-end No. 1 or high-end No. 2 Fantasy defenseman worth taking in the first few rounds of all drafts. Carle was a massive disappointment last season, but he put up 42 points in 2006-07 and is worth taking in later rounds as a sleeper low-end Fantasy defenseman. Wishart is a great prospect, but likely only has an outside shot of making the Lightning squad to start 2008-09. He'll probably play in the AHL, but is definitely worth owning in long-term keeper formats. Lukowich, meanwhile, has never made a huge impact in his 10-year career. Ignore him in all drafts.
News:Dan Boyle had an assist, his 20th of the season, when the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Southeast Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 on Saturday night. Boyle played a game-high 31 shifts and had 28 minutes of ice time.
Analysis: Boyle was questionable for this game because of a four- or five-inch cut to his throat he sustained on Thursday. Boyle already missed 45 games this season because of two surgeries on his left wrist after a skate fell out of his locker after a preseason game against the Capitals.
News:Dan Boyle suffered a four- or five-inch cut to his throat on Thursday when he was slashed by the skate of Washington's Mike Green. It turns out the injury is not that serious, but it was scarry enough. "It scared the (bleep) out of me," Boyle said later. "All I knew is at that moment I was sliced open." Boyle did not need stitches but his voice was raspy because of what he said was a bruise in his throat. The play occurred at the end of Green's rink-long rush. As Green churned toward the net he was pushed by Tampa Bay's Shane O'Brien. Boyle, who was knocked down by Washington's Brooks Laich, slid into Green just as Green's left leg went up, exposing his skate blade.
Analysis: Boyle missed 45 games this season because of two surgeries on his left wrist after a skate fell out of his locker after a preseason game against the Capitals, and on Wednesday he had to leave practice when he was kicked in the head by the skate of heels-over-head teammate Andreas Karlsson. Considering the Richard Zednik's life-threatening cut to the neck, Boyle will take his fortune and continue to play.
News: Lightning D Dan Boyle assisted twice Tuesday in an 8-4 win over the Islanders.
Analysis: Boyle has 18 points in 25 games this season, and his presence was sorely missed this season by his Fantasy owners during the long period he was out after wrist surgery. He is one of the better offensive defenseman in the league, but the fact he plays on such a bad team makes him a No. 2 Fantasy blue-liner at best.
News:Dan Boyle scored a power-play goal with 2:58 left in overtime and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Friday night. Boyle, who also had two assists, scored from the left circle.
Analysis: Boyle has four goals and 10 assists in 18 games this season. He missed 45 games after having wrist surgery. Last season, he scored 20 goals and had 63 points. Boyle was mentioned in several trade rumors, but the Lightning made the right move by signing him to a deal. He remains a high-end Fantasy defenseman despite playing on a bad team.
News: The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed defenseman Dan Boyle to a six-year contract extension. General Manager Jay Feaster announced the deal Monday night, the day before the NHL's trade deadline.
Analysis: Boyle has three goals and 11 points in 17 games this season. He missed 45 games following wrist surgery. Last season, he scored 20 goals and had 63 points. Boyle was mentioned in several trade rumors, but the Lightning made the right move by signing him to a deal. He remains a high-end Fantasy defenseman despite playing on a bad team.
News: Lightning D Dan Boyle scored a goal, added an assist and finished at plus-1 during Thursday's 5-3 win against the Flyers. Boyle, who missed 36 games this season after wrist surgery, tied the score at 2 with a power-play goal early in the second period. Boyle tried for his second goal of the game later in the period, but his slapper bounced off Martin St. Louis' stick and the puck popped over Martin Biron's shoulder for a 4-2 lead.
Analysis: Boyle now has one goal and four assists in his last six games. He is also at plus-4 in that span. He has looked every bit like the player who has tallied 50-plus points in the previous two seasons since returning from a second wrist surgery. He has re-emerged as a must-start Fantasy defenseman.
News: Lightning D Dan Boyle, after scoring twice in his first game back after recovering from a wrist surgery, assisted on both Tampa Bay goals in a 4-2 loss to the Sabres on Tuesday.
Analysis: Boyle had 20 goals and 43 assists last season and is a solid Fantasy defenseman when healthy, as evident by his performance since returning from injury. Scoop him up quickly if he's still available in your league.
News: Defenseman Dan Boyle returned to the Lightning lineup Thursday night against Ottawa after missing the previous 36 games following wrist surgery. Boyle underwent surgery in early November to repair damaged tendons in his left wrist. He was injured Sept. 22 when a skate slipped from a hook above his locker, then missed the first nine games of the season. Boyle wasted little time making his impact felt as he scored two goals. Boyle scored his first goal on a wrist shot at 13:51 of the second period and finished with his second goal on a wrist shot at 15:17 of the third period.
Analysis: Boyle appeared in four games before an MRI exam revealed two of the three tendons repaired during surgery on Sept. 23 had not healed properly. Considered Tampa Bay's top defenseman, Boyle had 20 goals and 43 assists last season. There is no question Boyle is a solid Fantasy defenseman when healthy, as evident by his performance Thursday. It looks as though the tendons took the second time. Boyle is only owned in 51 percent of Fantasy leagues, so if you are lucky, scoop him up ASAP.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Lightning D Dan Boyle, who has been out since Nov. 5 after a failed comeback from left wrist surgery, began to practice with the team last week and has added to his on-ice regimen steadily. He began shooting over the weekend and has begun to engage in light one-on-one puck battles toward the end of practice. There is no official target date for his return to the lineup, although the loose date fixed for his return is sometime in late January/early February.
Analysis: Though no official timetable has been given for Boyle's return, but right after the All-Star Game (Jan. 27) would seem to be a logical time -- it would mark around 12 weeks since Boyle had to undergo surgery to repair three tendons in his wrist, which did not take after a first surgery. Boyle managed a minus-7 rating in four games this season, but he just wasn't the same player because of the wrist injury. He is coming off two monster seasons and is usually a solid Fantasy option when healthy. If you need a decent defenseman in the second half of the season, consider taking a flier on Boyle. It appears as though he is on the road to recovery.
News: Tampa Bay D Dan Boyle (wrist surgery) is skating during practice, but the team has not announced a timetable for his return.
Analysis: Boyle had surgery to repair three tendons in his wrist, which did not take after a first surgery. Boyle managed a minus-7 rating in four games this season, but he just wasn't the same player because of the wrist injury. He is coming off two monster seasons and is usually a solid Fantasy option when healthy. If you need a decent defenseman in the second half of the season, consider taking a flier on Boyle.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle took the ice toward the tail end of Tuesday's morning skate, the first real skate Boyle has taken since undergoing a second surgery on his left wrist in early November.
Analysis: Though no official timetable has been given for Boyle's return, right after the All-Star Game (Jan. 27) would seem to be a logical time -- it would mark around 12 weeks since Boyle had to undergo surgery to repair three tendons in his wrist, which did not take after a first surgery. Boyle managed a minus-7 rating in four games this season, but he just wasn't the same player because of the wrist injury. He is coming off two monster seasons and is usually a solid Fantasy option when healthy. If you need a decent defenseman in the second half of the season, consider taking a flier on Boyle. It appears as though he is on the road to recovery.
News: Tampa Bay D Dan Boyle (wrist surgery) has been cleared to resume skating. There is no timetable for his return.
Analysis: Boyle had a successful second surgery on his left wrist in early November, but the team continues to be cautious with one of their top defenseman. He is a solid Fantasy option when healthy, but needs to be kept out of Fantasy lineups at this time.
News: The Lightning said Saturday that D Dan Boyle (wrist surgery) is making progress, but there is no timetable for his return.
Analysis: Boyle had a successful second surgery on his left wrist in early November, but the team continues to be cautious with one of their top defenseman. He is a solid Fantasy option when healthy, but needs to be kept out of Fantasy lineups at this time.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Lightning D Dan Boyle underwent what the team called a successful second surgery on his left wrist Friday in Baltimore. He injured the wrist originally on Sept. 22 when a skate fell from a hook above his locker and cut three tendons. The first surgery didn't take, and after playing through severe weakness in the wrist for four games, Boyle told the training staff enough was enough.
Analysis: Unlike the first time around, when the team said he'd be back in four to six weeks, there is no public timetable for Boyle's return this time. Not good news for Fantasy owners. If you have an injured reserve spot on your roster, consider keeping Boyle there. He's a solid offensive defenseman, who plays the point on the power play when healthy.
News: Tampa Bay learned about life with defenseman Dan Boyle for the first four weeks of the season. Now they are going to have to make it go for a while longer. As the Lightning gets set to travel to Carolina Thursday for a meeting with the Southeast Division leaders, they will be without their ice time leader for an indefinite period of time. Boyle missed the five weeks of playing time after a skate fell on his left wrist in the locker room on Sept. 22, which required surgery to re-attach three severed tendons the next day. He returned to action on Oct. 29 against the New York Rangers and appeared in four games, including playing over 28 minutes against Atlanta on Nov. 3.
Analysis: But Boyle expressed some concern about the strength in his left wrist on Saturday and underwent an MRI in Tampa on Monday, the results of which revealed only one of the three tendons remained attached to the bone, while one was hanging on by the stitching and the other was detached. A second surgery will now be performed at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore on Friday to fix the problem. No timetable for his return will be established. Now for the second time in the young season, Tampa Bay will have to learn what life might be like should Boyle leave as a free agent at the end of the season. If you have an injured reserve spot on your roster, consider keeping Boyle there. He's a solid offensive defenseman, who plays the point on the power play when healthy.
News: The Lightning played Wednesday against the Panthers without defenseman Dan Boyle, who will undergo surgery Friday to repair damaged tendons in his left wrist. He was injured Sept. 22 when a skate slipped from a hook above his locker, then missed the first 10 games of the season.
Analysis: Boyle, who's on injured reserve and out indefinitely, appeared in four games before an MRI exam this week revealed two of the three tendons repaired during surgery on Sept. 23 had not healed properly. The team was 0-4 in the games he played. Not good news at all for Boyle or Fantasy owners. Continue to keep the talented defenseman out of active Fantasy lineups. He is a must-start when healthy, but that is anyone's guess at this time.
News: D Dan Boyle underwent an MRI on Monday and missed the game against Florida. Boyle, who missed the first nine games of the season, had played the last four including 28 minutes against Atlanta on Saturday, but expressed some concern to the training staff after the game about the strength in his wrist. Though the results came back Monday, the report from the doctor won't be available until Tuesday.
Analysis: D Doug Janik was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the previous four games. He replaced D Dan Boyle. Boyle's presence on the power play hasn't been a factor in his first two games back and his timing appears to be off after playing in one game -- a preseason game -- since Tampa Bay was eliminated from the playoffs last spring. Boyle is owned in just 85 percent of Fantasy leagues.
News: The Sports XChange reports: After playing limited minutes in his season debut Monday, Dan Boyle is back to a regular shift in his return from wrist surgery. In his first game of the season Monday, Boyle was limited to power-play time and four-on-four action as he tried to feel his way back. It was also an opportunity to test his surgically-repaired tendons in his left wrist and let him get over a mental hurdle to ensure that he wouldn't reinjure it. Now he is expected to start getting into the flow of the game again taking regular shifts at even strength, as well. Though it was well short of his normal playing time, Boyle logged just over 20 minutes against the Devils on Wednesday and should be in that same neighborhood when the Lightning complete a three-game road swing Thursday at the New York Islanders.
Analysis: Despite not having 100-percent mobility in his left wrist, Boyle is able to do just about everything normally, including taking slap shots and handling the puck. His only area of concern is when he just uses his left hand to try to sweep check or poke check, especially in the corners during battles along the walls. Boyle's presence on the power play hasn't been a factor in his first two games back and his timing appears to be off after playing in one game -- a preseason game -- since Tampa Bay was eliminated from the playoffs last spring. Boyle is owned in just 85 percent of Fantasy leagues, so grab him if he's available.
News: The Sports XChange: D Dan Boyle returned to action for the first time Monday at the N.Y. Rangers after missing the first nine games following surgery to repair three severed tendons in his left wrist.
Analysis: Boyle was used almost exclusively on the power play -- of which there were none in the second period -- and some four-on-four time. He finished the game with 11 minutes of ice time. Boyle is owned in just 79 percent of Fantasy leagues, so grab him if he's available.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Lightning D Dan Boyle, who underwent surgery on his left wrist during training camp to repair tendons damaged by a falling skate and has missed the first nine games, could return to the lineup as soon as Monday against the Rangers. However, he is more likely to be activated for Wednesday's game at New Jersey or Thursday against the Islanders.
Analysis: Boyle came into the season with high expectations after posting a career-high 63 points in 2006-07. He is a must-start Fantasy option when healthy, but remains an injury-risk start for Fantasy Week 5 (Oct. 29-Nov. 4), although it appears he will finally see his first action this season. Boyle is owned in just 71 percent of Fantasy leagues, so now might be the time to take a flier on him.
News: Tampa Bay D Dan Boyle (wrist surgery) continues working out with the team and could return to the lineup in the near future.
Analysis: Boyle came into the season with high expectations after posting a career-high 63 points in 2006-07. He is a must-start Fantasy option when healthy, but remains an injury-risk start for Fantasy Week 5 (Oct. 29-Nov. 4).
News: The Tampa Tribune reports Dan Boyle had successful surgery to repair three torn tendons in his wrist. After practice over the weekend, one of his skates fell off the hook in his locker and slashed his wrist. Originally it was thought that he had just one torn tendon, but it was revealed that he needed surgery to repair three.
Analysis: Boyle is expected to miss four to six weeks as a result, which hurts the Lightning and Fantasy owners in early drafts significantly. If possible, try and acquire Filip Kuba for the early portion of the season, as he'll likely quarterback the power play in Boyle's absence.
News: Vincent Lecavalier and Dan Boyle scored just under two minutes apart early in the third to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning past Carolina 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Analysis: Boyle has managed four goals and five points over the past five games. He remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues and will be a highly coveted player heading into Draft Day 2007-08.
News: Brad Richards and Dan Boyle scored on Tuesday at Toronto for Tampa Bay, which lost all four games against the Maple Leafs this season. "They've been frustrated with our play here the same way we have," he said. "It's totally understandable."
Analysis: Boyle has scored two goals with five points during his current five-game point streak. He remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Lightning D Dan Boyle established a career high with 54 points while tying his career high with 40 assists during Wednesday's game against the Oilers. He now has one assist in three straight games.
Analysis: Boyle remains a solid Fantasy option. He trails only Nicklas Lidstrom (58) and Sheldon Souray (55) in points scored by a defenseman.
News: Lightning D Dan Boyle scored his 14th goal of the season Friday against the Bruins. He now has three goals and four assists in his last seven games.
Analysis: Boyle remains a solid Fantasy option in all formats and is well on his way to surpassing his career points total of 53 -- which he has done twice in his career. He currently has 50 points.
News: Dan Boyle assisted on Lecavalier's first goal in Thursday's game against Washington to become the Lightning's all-time scoring leader for defensemen with 210 points.
Analysis: Boyle remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues.
News: D Dan Boyle, C Ryan Craig, C Andreas Karlsson, D Filip Kuba and D Paul Ranger all contributed assists in Tuesday's game against the Flyers.
Analysis: Boyle has two goals and eight points over the past eight games. He remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Dan Boyle scored a goal in Tuesday's game against the Maple Leafs to go along with a minus-1 rating in 26:35 of ice time.
Analysis: Boyle has managed seven points in his past eight games and 15 points over the past 13 starts. The All-Star snub continues to produce and remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Lightning D Dan Boyle took the high road Saturday, choosing not to say much when asked about not being selected to represent the Eastern Conference at the All-Star game later this month. Boyle entered play Saturday fifth in the league in scoring by a defenseman and third in the East. Boyle went out and scored his 10th goal of the season against the Sabres.
Analysis: Boyle has 27 assists to go along with his 10 goals. Although he won't be going to the All-Star game, Boyle remains a must-start Fantasy defender.
News: Dan Boyle picked up an assist and plus-1 rating with two shots on goal in 24:20 of ice time in Tuesday's game against the Penguins.
Analysis: Boyle has four goals and 11 points over the past nine games. The Lightning might want to hang onto the talented defenseman and squash those rumors of a possible deal with San Jose for G Vesa Toskala.
News: Dan Boyle has managed eight goals and 19 assists through 36 games at the Christmas break with a minus-2 rating and 32 penalty minutes.
Analysis: Boyle also leads the team in power play assists (14) and power play points (18). He remains a must-start Fantasy defenseman, especially in leagues which reward PIM.
News: Dan Boyle was scoreless with a plus-1 rating in 25:18 of ice time in Monday's game at N.Y. Islanders, as he has failed to record a point in four straight contests.
Analysis: Boyle has gone without a goal in 15 games to open the season. Despite his lack of goals and only eight assists, he remains a solid Fantasy option in most leagues.
News: Dan Boyle was scoreless in Thursday's regular season opener at Atlanta. He had three shots on goal while playing a team-high 31:08 of ice time.
Analysis: Boyle will be among the league leaders in the NHL in ice time, so expect the offense to follow with more opportunity. He remains a must-start Fantasy defenseman in all leagues.
News: Dan Boyle (ankle) was back in the lineup for Monday's game against the Panthers. He had an assist and plus-2 rating in 25:55 of ice time.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Boyle back into the active Fantasy lineup in all leagues which allow daily transactions.
News: Dan Boyle (ankle) missed his third straight game on Saturday at Florida.
Analysis: Boyle remains day to day. Timo Helbing and Doug O'Brien replaced Boyle and Pavel Kubina (lower body injury) in the lineup.
News: Dan Boyle (ankle) was out again on Thursday against the Thrashers. With Pavel Kubina (lower body injury) also out of action, the team used Timo Helbling and Doug O'Brien were recalled from Springfield of the AHL to play.
Analysis: Boyle remains day to day. Keep him reserved in all Fantasy leagues until he can officially return and prove his health.
News: Dan Boyle was unable to dress for Monday's game at Carolina due to a right ankle injury suffered on Saturday against N.Y. Rangers.
Analysis: Boyle is considered day to day. Keep him reserved in all Fantasy leagues until he can officially return and prove his health.
News: Dan Boyle picked up an assist in Monday's game at Florida in 26:12 of ice time.
Analysis: Boyle has posted 15 points (2 G, 13 A) over the past 17 games. He remains a must-start rearguard in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Dan Boyle scored a pair of goals, added an assist and posted a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's game against the Penguins in 25:57 of ice time.
Analysis: Boyle has posted 11 points (2 G, 9 A) over the past 10 games. He remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues, as he has really picked up his play of late.
News: Dan Boyle has amassed 11 goals, 28 assists and a plus-2 rating through 58 games at the Olympic Games break. He is one of only six players to play in all of his teams' games.
Analysis: Boyle finished with 39 points in 78 games during the team's Stanley Cup season in 2003-04. He is on pace for 55 points, which would eclipse his career-best 53 points set back in 2002-03 with the Lightning.
News: Dan Boyle was scoreless in Tuesday's game at New Jersey with two shots on goal in 23:38 of ice time.
Analysis: Boyle has 11 goals this season, but just one over the past 19 games. He also has just four assists during the unimpressive span, yet has too much potential to consider reserving in any Fantasy league.
News: Dan Boyle was scoreless with a minus-1 rating in 26:16 of ice time in Sunday's game at Washington.
Analysis: Coach John Tortorella's faith continues in the rearguard, but he has done very little on the offensive end lately. Over the past 15 games, he has just one goal and one assist. With just two games in the upcoming scoring period, keep him reserved in all cumulative leagues.
News: Dan Boyle had a goal, assist and plus-1 rating in 27:36 of ice time in Monday's game against the Hurricanes.
Analysis: Boyle's goal on Monday ended a 12-game goal drought, but he still had nine assists during the stretch. After a tough start to the season, he has re-emerged as a must-start Fantasy defenseman.
News: Dan Boyle picked up an assist in Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. He also had two shots on goal in 21:32 of ice time.
Analysis: Boyle has posted 14 points (6 G, 8 A) over the past 12 games with an even rating. If he is available in your Fantasy league, pounce on him immediately.
News: Boyle scored a goal and added an assist in Monday's game against the Flyers. He was also a plus-1 in 22:36 of ice time.
Analysis: After posting only six points (3 G, 3 A) over the first 14 games of the season, Boyle has the same exact production in just the past five games.
News: The Lightning re-signed Dan Boyle to a three-year contract on Tuesday.
Analysis: Boyle will again quarterback the team's power play. He posted nine goals and 30 assists in 2003-04. He might be in line for a slight uptick in statistics in 2005-06 with more room on the power play.
News: The Tampa Tribune reports Dan Boyle (upper body) is a gametime decision for Tuesday's Game 3 at Montreal.
Analysis: The injury he sustained after being slashed by a Montreal player in Game 2 is not considered serious.
News: The Tampa Tribune reports Dan Boyle was forced to leave Sunday's Game 2 against Montreal due to an upper body injury.
Analysis: Boyle was slashed by one of the Montreal players. He will be re-evaluated on Monday to determine his status for Game 3 in Montreal.
News: Dan Boyle had an assist and was a plus-5 in Saturday's game against Philadelphia, bringing him back to even on the season.
Analysis: Boyle still has only two assists over his past 13 games and should be reserved in most Fantasy leagues until he can return to his 2002-03 form.
News: Dan Boyle (concussion) returned to the lineup for Tuesday's game at Toronto.
Analysis: It is safe to get Boyle back into the active lineup in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Dan Boyle left Saturday's game in Buffalo late in the second period with a concussion. He hit the back of his head into the boards following a check by Ales Kotalik, and will miss at least one week.
Analysis: Boyle, who has slumped this season, should be reserved in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Dan Boyle scored his first goal of the season against St. Louis on Friday.
Analysis: Boyle has had a disappointing season thus far. Since he plays on the power play, he still remains a valuable defenseman in most leagues.
News: Dan Boyle (collarbone) returned to the lineup for Saturday's preseason game against Nashville. He led the team in ice time.
Analysis: Boyle appeared fully recovered and ready for the regular season.
News: Dan Boyle (collarbone) is expected to play in Saturday's preseason finale in Florida, according to the Tampa Tribune.
Analysis: Barring any setbacks, Boyle appears ready for the regular season. He looks safe to start for the first week of the Fantasy season.
News: Boyle (bruised collarbone) practiced for the second consecutive game on Wednesday, according to the Tampa Tribune. He might be able to play in Saturday's preseason finale at Florida.
Analysis: Boyle is still a solid Fantasy defenseman, but he'll be a risky first week starter if he can't play on Saturday.
News: The Tampa Tribune reports that Boyle will miss a week to ten days with bruised ribs. He was injured Thursday during a preseason game at Carolina. He should be ready for the season opener October 10 against Boston.
Analysis: Boyle is an excellent Fantasy defenseman and should be drafted in the Top 20 in most leagues. This injury should not affect him throughout the season.
News: Boyle has five assists in his past three games. He has showed no ill effects from a finger injury which caused him to spend time on injured reserve. He is a useful Fantasy option in larger leagues.
Analysis:
News: Boyle (index finger) missed Tuesday's game and is out indefinetly. Boyle is hopeful of returning sometime next week. He has minimal Fantasy value.
Analysis:
News: The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Boyle from the Florida Panthers on Monday in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2003. He is expected to get increased ice time in Tampa Bay, but we don't expect that to raise his Fantasy value quite high enough to pick up at this point. Monitor Boyle's progress, and only consider him if he appears to fit in well in the Lightning offense.
Analysis:
News: The Florida Panthers recalled Boyle on Saturday from Louisville of the AHL. To make room on the roster, the Panthers sent defensemen Brad Ference and Lance Ward to Louisville. Boyle had three assists in 12 games with Florida before being sent down Nov. 9.
Analysis:
