San Jose Sharks
SAN JOSE, CA – Defenseman Dan Boyle formally announced his retirement from the game of hockey on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 , completing 17 stellar seasons in the National Hockey League – six of which he spent as a member of the San Jose Sharks.
Boyle played in 1,093 NHL games with Florida, Tampa Bay, San Jose and the New York Rangers, scoring 605 points (163 goals, 442 assists) and 693 penalty minutes. He was a member of Tampa Bay’s 2004 Stanley Cup-winning team and appeared in 130 Stanley Cup Playoff games, adding 81 points (17 goals, 64 assists).
“Today, I would like to formally announce my retirement from the National Hockey League,” said Boyle. “I’ve been fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to do what I most love to do. All I wanted to do as a young boy was have the opportunity to play ONE game in the NHL. Over a thousand games later, this whole experience seems surreal. I want to thank all four organizations for the opportunity, my teammates and the FANS for this amazing run that I will cherish forever.”
Amongst all-time NHL defensemen, Boyle finishes 35th in overall scoring, 31st in goals and 38th in assists. His 72 power play goals ranks T-29th all-time and his 2,231 shots in 36th among all NHL blueliners.
Amongst active NHL players, Boyle retires as the leader in points and assists amongst all NHL defenseman and is third in goals, second in shots and fourth in power play goals.
Between 2002-03 (Boyle’s first full season with Tampa Bay) and 2013-14 (Boyle’s last season with San Jose), only Niklas Lidstrom produced more points (516) than Boyle (502) and only Zdeno Chara (145) and Shea Weber (131) scored more goals (129) amongst all NHL defensemen.
A two-time NHL All-Star (both with San Jose; 2008-09, 2010-11), Boyle was also named as an NHL Second Team All-Star in 2006-2007 and 2008-09. He was in the top-15 for Norris Trophy voting six times, including fourth (2006-07), fifth (2008-09) and sixth place (2009-10) finishes. He is one of only four defenseman in NHL history to serve as the leading point scorer for two different franchises;
Paul Coffey (EDM 669, PIT 440)
Al MacInnis (CGY 822, STL 452)
Scott Niedermayer (NJ 476, ANA 264)
Dan Boyle (TB 253, SJ 269)
Undrafted out of Miami University, Boyle’s 1093 NHL games ranks 10th all-time among all undrafted NHL players (4th among defensemen) and his 605 points ranks 15th amongst all players (3rd among defensemen).
Acquired by the Sharks on July 4, 2008 from Tampa Bay, Boyle played in 431 games with San Jose – his longest tenured NHL stop – and scored 269 points (68 goals, 201 assists). He remains the franchise’s leading point scorer amongst defensemen (Brent Burns is second with 240), first in assists and power play goals, second in goals and shots (1,095).
In 62 Stanley Cup Playoff games with San Jose, Boyle posted 48 points (11 goals, 37 assists), good for fifth all-time in franchise history and first amongst defenseman.
“Dan’s statistics and his accomplishments speak for themselves and we congratulate him on a remarkable career,” said Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson. “As an undrafted player, he was consistently told that he wouldn’t play in the NHL but his determination and passion for the game proved many people wrong. Those traits, along with hard work, helped him become one of the League’s best defensemen over the last 25 years. We’re excited that Dan, Amber and their family have chosen to return to Northern California and we welcome them back into the Sharks family.”
Boyle, his wife Amber, and their two daughters, will reside in Northern California.
