Boyle signs
It seemed to be only a matter of time once Boyle agreed to an ATO with Manchester, and now it's done. Brian Boyle signed a two-year entry-level deal with the Kings today. I'll cut and paste the release below.
KINGS SIGN PROSPECT BRIAN BOYLE
TO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have signed center/defenseman Brian Boyle to a two-year entry level contract, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.
Boyle, 22, played in 42 games this season for Boston College and recently captained the Eagles to the NCAA Championship Game where he scored his club’s only goal (BC reached the Championship game in 2006 as well). This season, his senior season, Boyle had 19 goals, a team-leading 34 assists and a career-high 53 points -- the highest total for any Hockey East player this season. He was second on his team with eight power play goals, he had one short-handed goal, and his 104 penalty minutes were a personal best.
Originally selected by the Kings in the first-round (26th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, one of three Kings first-round draft choices in 2003 (Dustin Brown and Jeff Tambellini were the others), the 6-7, 250-pound native of Dorchester, Massachusetts, played for Boston College for four years and compiled 140 points (65-75=137) and 294 penalty minutes in 159 games from 2003-07. This season, Boyle’s Eagles won the Hockey East Championship (Boyle’s second at BC) and he reached the NCAA Frozen Four (where he received All-Tournament recognition this year) for the third time.
Boyle received numerous other awards this season, including: AHCA All-America first-team honors as a forward; All-New England honors at the Hockey Writers Banquet; All-Tournament honors as a defenseman at the NCAA Tournament’s Northeast Regional in Manchester, N.H.; the Herb Gallagher Award as the region’s best forward; and he was selected to the hockey writers’ All-New England team.
As a junior, Boyle earned AHCA All-America second-team honors and Hockey East All-Conference first-team honors. He also shared his program’s John A. “Snooks” Kelley Award (with current Kings defenseman Peter Harrold) as the player who best exemplifies Boston College hockey. He also in 2005-06 earned All-Tournament team honors at the NCAA Tournament’s Northeast Regional and All-Tournament recognition at the Hockey East Tournament.
As a sophomore, Boyle earned the James E. Tiernan Memorial Award as the program’s Most Improved Player. He also garnered Hockey East Tournament Most Valuable Player honors (and All-Tournament honors), Florida College Classic All-Tournament honors and NCAA Tournament East Regional All-Tournament accolades.
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About Rich Hammond
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Rich...do you know if Boyle's contract with the Kings means his ATO with Manchester is null and void, and can't play for the Monarchs in the playoffs? I would think that it does, but what the hell do I know!! :-)
From what I understand, Boyle will be OK to keep playing for Manchester in the postseason.
The more interesting question is why a two-year entry level contract and not the standard three-year one?
The lengths of entry-level contracts are based on age.
Ages 18-21 = three years
Ages 22-23 = two years
Ages 24-plus = one year
Rich,
Thanks for furthering my education!!
Do you know what the Kings plans are for Boyle? Defenseman or Center.
I think that he would much more of a force on D with his reach. Plus more playing time. What do you think?
Rich, You think signing Boyle to an ATO w/ the Monarchs days before inking him to an entry level deal w/ the parent club a little CBA loophole used to get him a little more green? Never seen that done before so I'm curious.
Also, good questions from Bob Miller's Hair.
I could definitely see Boyle playing defense. It's something the Kings talked to him about last season so it wouldn't surprise me at all, but I think we'll find out more this summer.
As for his ATO/entry-level timing, it's a good question. I don't believe it would make a substantial difference, but maybe a little. Lombardi seems to be very creative with CBA stuff, so anything is possible.