After the San Jose Sharks collapsed (again) in the playoffs, you had to assume the team was going to be making some big changes. The team has already decided to retain their head coach and GM, meaning any substantial changes will have to be made on the ice. One of those changes involves Dan Boyle.
https://twitter.com/KKurzCSN/status/467063836449980416
Boyle just completed a six-year, $40 million contract in 2013-14. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent and it looks like he’ll be allowed to test free agency as the Sharks apparently don’t have him in their plans.
It’s the end of an era in San Jose, but it’s not completely surprising. Boyle will turn 38 in July and has been with the Sharks since the 2008-09 season. The ultimate award has remained elusive for the club, which makes the decision on Boyle a fairly simple one. If you’re going to change your identity you’re going to have to bring in some new faces and let some old ones walk. Boyle will be missed by fans, but it’s the right decision.
Boyle should be an attractive option on the market. He has slowed down in recent years, but he’s still a solid addition defensively. The biggest question now revolves around Boyle’s cost. It’s obvious he won’t receive another multi-year deal which pays a rather odd amount (his last one paid $6,666,666 a year), but he certainly won’t be one of the cheaper options out there.
