The Tampa Bay Lightning have traded Brian Boyle to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Byron Froese and a second-round draft pick in 2017.
The #TBLightning get the highest of #leafs three 2017 2nds: TOR, SJ or OTT.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 27, 2017
Boyle, 32, made two consecutive appearances in the finals as a member of the New York Rangers (2014) and Lightning (2015). Boyle has recorded 13 goals and nine assists in 54 games this season.
Froese was drafted 119th overall by Chicago in 2009. He's appeared in 58 games at the NHL level, with two goals and three assists to his name. In 195 AHL games, he has recorded 49 goals and 52 assists.
The deal marks a startling turnaround from the beginning of the season, where the Maple Leafs entered as last year's last-place team while the Lightning came to within one win of the Stanley Cup Final.
Since 2011, nobody has more playoff experience (100 GP) than Brian Boyle
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 27, 2017
(Per @TSNResearch) pic.twitter.com/8W8zGGuAtY
The games are played on the ice, however, and Toronto is currently in a playoff spot and looking to add the kind of veteran savvy needed in the postseason.
In total, Boyle has appeared in 100 playoff games, scoring 15 goals.
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