Forward Brian Boyle selected as Penguins' Masterton Trophy nominee

Penguins management has been satisfied with what it has gotten out of veteran forward Brian Boyle this season.

A 10-goal effort out of a player who — after sitting out of professional hockey for an entire season — came into the 2021 training camp on a tryout basis and signed a one-year deal for a league minimum $750,000 is quite a return on investment.

But as sated as general manager Ron Hextall might be, his happiness likely pales in comparison to 6-year-old Declan Boyle.

“Every time I walk in the door, he won’t even let me give my wife a hug and a kiss, he wants to play,” said Declan’s 37-year-old father. “And it’s always hockey. If it’s raining outside, it’s mini-sticks. If he gets tired of that, it’s Xbox (with NHL 21). He loves the game. He has the Penguins’ app on his iPad. He watches postgame interviews. It’s incredible. It is so rewarding for me to see that.”

The elder Boyle’s decision to return to the NHL could lead him to an individual award after he was selected as the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by members of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA).

The award recognizes “the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

All 32 chapters of the PHWA select a nominee then select a winner via ballot.

Boyle did not play during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season simply out of a lack of interest from NHL teams. He didn’t receive any contract offers.

But he kept the door open by training in his surplus of free time. And last spring, he served as captain of the United States’ team in the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) World Championship tournament.

Even after a solid showing in that event, he remained unsigned fairly late into the 2021 offseason until the Penguins extended him a tryout in August.

With the Penguins opening the season without the services of injured centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the team needed some depth down the middle as well as someone who might be able to boost their penalty-killing unit which struggled throughout the 2020-21 campaign.

Signing his contract on the opening day of the season in October, Boyle has exceeded any and all expectations.

In 65 games, he has 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) and has carved out a steady role on the league’s third-ranked penalty kill which has a conversion rate of 85.7 %.

“Our expectations were that he was going to be a guy that was going to help us on the penalty kill,” said Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, who coached Boyle previously with the New York Rangers. “That was one area that we focused on from Day 1 of training camp that as an area where we knew we needed to improve and get better. And we’ve made a concerted effort in trying to do that, both from a scheme standpoint but also from a personnel standpoint. Brian was a guy we felt could help us in that capacity.

“We also felt he was a guy that was just a conscientious player, that was trustworthy, reliable, that could help us in the faceoff circle, that was a good defensive player, makes us harder to play against. He’s lived up to all of those expectations and then some. We didn’t anticipate he was going to score (19 points) for us. And that’s a credit to Brian and to how hard he’s worked to maintain his game at a high level.”

Beyond his on-ice acumen, Boyle has also found a way to become one of the most respected voices in a dressing room that was already full of veterans that commanded strong presences.

“He’s got a lot of energy,” Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin said. “You can tell he doesn’t take a day for granted. He’s always excited to be at the rink and around the guys. You can tell he’s got a little fire under him.”

That fire has allowed him to still be an NHLer after a season-long hiatus.

“I think you just have to have that belief in yourself,” Boyle said. “If you don’t, the league’s too hard. Guys are too good. That’s step one, you have to really believe in yourself. You have to commit to something and trust that you can do it if you put the work in. I think I did that. It was hard. The beginning of the year was hard. There was some days where it was tough just from being out for so long. We’ve been coached well. Been put in a spot where I can play to my strengths and I expect to try to keep improving to be honest with you.”

Boyle is a previous winner of the award which is named after a Minnesota North Stars player who died in 1968 as a result of a head injury suffered during a game. As a member of the New Jersey Devils, Boyle received the honor following the 2017-18 season after overcoming a bout with myeloid leukemia, a form of bone marrow cancer.

“When I went through it in (New) Jersey, they were unbelievable and understanding and supporting,” Boyle said. “It’s a tremendous award the league does. I remember times during that year, I was pretty low and the league brought me up. Different guys, different people. You see people triumphing over a lot of dark days.

“When I was recognized a few years ago, it was pretty special for my whole family.”

Boyle’s return to the sport has been special for different but certainly profound reasons.

“It has been the most rewarding thing. … Ever,” Boyle said. “My son loves the game now.”