Leafs address centre-ice depth, adding Brian Boyle from Lightning
Posted February 27, 2017 4:01 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have plugged a year-long hole at the fourth-line centre spot, swinging a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning for Brian Boyle on Monday afternoon.
The Leafs sent minor-leaguer Byron Froese and a 2017 second round pick to Tampa to acquire the six-foot-six Boyle.
The 32-year-old has 13 goals and 22 points in 54 games with the Lightning this season. He’ll be leaned on most in Toronto for his faceoff and penalty killing abilities in a fourth-line role.
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock has shuffled warily through fourth line centres this year, including Peter Holland, Frederik Gauthier and Ben Smith.