# Brian Boyle
**Brian Boyle** (Brian Paul Boyle, born 1984 in Hingham, Massachusetts) is an American former professional ice hockey center who played 14 seasons in the [National Hockey League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-hockey-league), won the 2017-18 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy after returning from a chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosis, and is now a studio analyst on NHL Network.[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986) He was drafted in the first round, 26th overall, by the [Los Angeles Kings](https://www.edgepedia.org/los-angeles-kings) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and played four years of college hockey at [Boston College](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-college) before turning professional.[2](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/boylebr01.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Hingham, Massachusetts; shoots left; listed at 6-6 and 245 lb as an NHL player[2](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/boylebr01.html) |
| Draft | Los Angeles Kings, first round (26th overall), 2003 NHL Entry Draft[2](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/boylebr01.html) |
| NHL career | 871 regular-season games, 141 goals, 111 assists, 252 points, 27 game-winning goals; 124 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Final appearances in 2014 and 2015[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986) |
| Teams | Los Angeles Kings (2008-09), New York Rangers (2009-14), Tampa Bay Lightning (2014-17), Toronto Maple Leafs (2017), New Jersey Devils (2017-19), Nashville Predators (2019), Florida Panthers (2019-20), Pittsburgh Penguins (2021-22)[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986) |
| Major award | Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, 2017-18, for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey after a leukemia diagnosis during training camp[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986) |
| College | Four years at Boston College; 2006-07 captain and NCAA First Team All-American; Hockey East Tournament MVP in 2004-05[3](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/brian-boyle-announces-nhl-retirement-will-join-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst) • [10](https://www.ncaa.com/history/icehockey-men/d1) |
| Post-playing career | Retired at the end of 2021-22; joined NHL Network as a studio analyst in March 2023[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986) |
## Early life and college career
Boyle grew up in Hingham, Massachusetts, the middle of Judith and Arthur Boyle's 13 children.[4](https://bceagles.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/brian-boyle/2338) While a senior forward at St. Sebastian's, he was named All-New England and led the league in scoring with 63 points over 31 games, and the [Boston Bruins](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-bruins) awarded him their yearly John Carlton Memorial Trophy for 2002-03, honoring Eastern Massachusetts's top high school hockey student-athlete.[4](https://bceagles.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/brian-boyle/2338) He was also a four-year pitcher and shortstop on the school's baseball team and served as its captain as a senior.[4](https://bceagles.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/brian-boyle/2338)
The Kings selected him 26th overall in 2003, and he joined Boston College that fall rather than turning professional immediately.[4](https://bceagles.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/brian-boyle/2338) His production rose each year. As a sophomore in 2004-05 he scored 19 goals and 27 points in 40 games and won Hockey East Tournament Most Valuable Player honors after tallying four goals and two assists in four tournament games; Denver, not Boston College, won that season's NCAA championship.[3](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/brian-boyle-announces-nhl-retirement-will-join-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst) • [4](https://bceagles.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/brian-boyle/2338) • [10](https://www.ncaa.com/history/icehockey-men/d1) As a junior in 2005-06 he finished second on the team with 52 points, including 22 goals and a team-high 30 assists, and earned AHCA All-America second-team and Hockey East All-Conference first-team honors.[4](https://bceagles.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/brian-boyle/2338)
**Senior season.** In 2006-07 Boyle captained the Eagles to their second [Hockey East](https://www.edgepedia.org/hockey-east) championship in three years, registering a career-high 53 points in 42 games, being named an NCAA First Team All-American, and earning a place on the Hockey East First All-Star Team.[3](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/brian-boyle-announces-nhl-retirement-will-join-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst) His three-year BC totals were 46 goals and 41 assists for 87 points in 117 games through his junior season.[4](https://bceagles.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/brian-boyle/2338)
## Professional career
Boyle turned pro with the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings' American Hockey League affiliate, in 2007-08 and scored 31 goals and 62 points in 70 games, earning AHL rookie of the month honors in January 2008 and a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team.[3](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/brian-boyle-announces-nhl-retirement-will-join-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst) He made his NHL debut on February 2, 2008, against the [New Jersey Devils](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-jersey-devils) and scored his first career NHL goal that night against [Martin Brodeur](https://www.edgepedia.org/martin-brodeur).[3](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/brian-boyle-announces-nhl-retirement-will-join-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst)
The Kings traded him to the [New York Rangers](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-rangers) at the 2009 NHL Draft, and he spent five seasons with the Rangers, the longest stop of his career.[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986) • [3](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/brian-boyle-announces-nhl-retirement-will-join-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst) He then played three seasons with the [Tampa Bay Lightning](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-bay-lightning), reaching back-to-back [Stanley Cup Finals](https://www.edgepedia.org/stanley-cup-finals) in 2014 with the Rangers and 2015 with the Lightning.[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986) The later years were a tour of roles as a veteran depth center: Toronto in 2017, New Jersey from 2017 to 2019, a half-season with Nashville in 2019, Florida in 2019-20, and Pittsburgh in 2021-22.[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986)
His playing style fit the bottom six. At 6 feet 6 inches he used his size and reach to dominate the front of the net, clog passing lanes, kill penalties, and take draws; a Devils-focused analysis noted he was strong in the faceoff circle and a net-front power-play option, though limited in transition.[5](https://www.ontheforecheck.com/brian-boyle-five-questions-with-all-about-the-jersey-devils/) In 2017-18 with New Jersey he led the Devils to their first Stanley Cup Playoffs berth since 2012.[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986)
## Leukemia diagnosis and the Masterton Trophy
During training camp in 2017, Boyle was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. The disease was discovered early, and Devils team doctors treated it with a management program that allowed him to keep playing so long as he had the stamina.[6](https://www.iihf.com/en/news/7656/beating-back-cancer) His first public message after the diagnosis was that he wanted to be ready for opening night; he played 69 games that season.[5](https://www.ontheforecheck.com/brian-boyle-five-questions-with-all-about-the-jersey-devils/)
That season he replaced [Taylor Hall](https://www.edgepedia.org/taylor-hall) at the All-Star Game and finished second in the accuracy shooting challenge, and he scored his first career NHL hat trick on Pittsburgh's Hockey Fights Cancer night.[3](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/brian-boyle-announces-nhl-retirement-will-join-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst) • [5](https://www.ontheforecheck.com/brian-boyle-five-questions-with-all-about-the-jersey-devils/) At the 2018 All-Star Game he said, "I'm not playing if it's not for my wife," crediting [Lauren Boyle](https://www.edgepedia.org/lauren-boyle), who was later named the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer Ambassador for the 2018-19 season.[6](https://www.iihf.com/en/news/7656/beating-back-cancer) At the end of the season he received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986)
**Return with Pittsburgh.** After going without a contract for the 2020-21 season, Boyle signed a professional tryout with the Penguins in September 2021 and a one-year, $750,000 contract in October. He scored in a season-opening 6-2 win against [Tampa Bay](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-bay), his first NHL game in 14 months, and finished with 11 goals and 21 points in 66 games.[7](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-talks-return-with-pittsburgh-penguins-hockey-fights-cancer-327694524) • [8](https://puckpedia.com/player/Brian-Boyle) In between, after nine months without competitive hockey, he captained the third-place United States team at the [2021 IIHF World Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/2021-iihf-world-championship), scoring three points in 10 games.[7](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-talks-return-with-pittsburgh-penguins-hockey-fights-cancer-327694524)
## Retirement and broadcasting
Boyle retired after the 2021-22 season and was announced as an NHL Network studio analyst on March 22, 2023, debuting on NHL Tonight two days later alongside his former Rangers teammate Mike Rupp.[1](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986) He has continued in the role since, appearing in network programming such as a 2025 segment ranking the centers he played with.[9](https://www.nhl.com/video/brian-boyle-and-bruce-boudreau-rank-centers-6377211687112)
## References
1. [Boyle joins NHL Network as studio analyst, NHL.com (March 22, 2023)](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-joins-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst-342571986)
2. [Brian Boyle Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Hockey-Reference.com](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/boylebr01.html)
3. [Brian Boyle announces NHL retirement, will join NHL Network as studio analyst, Daily Faceoff (March 22, 2023)](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/brian-boyle-announces-nhl-retirement-will-join-nhl-network-as-studio-analyst)
4. [Brian Boyle bio, Boston College Athletics](https://bceagles.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/brian-boyle/2338)
5. [Brian Boyle: Five Questions with All About the Jersey, On the Forecheck (February 6, 2019)](https://www.ontheforecheck.com/brian-boyle-five-questions-with-all-about-the-jersey-devils/)
6. [Beating back cancer, IIHF](https://www.iihf.com/en/news/7656/beating-back-cancer)
7. [Boyle discusses return with Penguins, Hockey Fights Cancer in Q&A, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/brian-boyle-talks-return-with-pittsburgh-penguins-hockey-fights-cancer-327694524)
8. [Brian Boyle Contract, Cap Hit, Salary and Stats, PuckPedia](https://puckpedia.com/player/Brian-Boyle)
9. [Brian Boyle and Bruce Boudreau rank centers, NHL.com video](https://www.nhl.com/video/brian-boyle-and-bruce-boudreau-rank-centers-6377211687112)
10. [DI Men's Ice Hockey Championship History, NCAA.com](https://www.ncaa.com/history/icehockey-men/d1)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Hockey and remaining team sports › Ice hockey players and personnel › Centers › Retired centers of the past*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license