Dan Boyle had a very long career playing in the NHL. Boyle played for a total of four teams. Most notable and prosperous for Boyle was his tenure with the San José Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning.
In fact, Dan Boyle was able to set franchise records with both clubs. He set the same record for both the Sharks and Lightning franchises, most points by a defenseman.
Within a span of 24 hours, Boyle’s record was surpassed for both franchises. Brent Burns and Victor Hedman took over the franchise records, for the Sharks and the Lightning respectively.
Remembering Boyle
Boyle played for 18 seasons, with four different teams. His longest tenure was with the Sharks and Lightning. He also had shorter stints with the Florida Panthers and ended his career with a two season performance with the New York Rangers.
At the end of the day, Boyle played in 1093 games, recording 163 goals and 442 assists. Boyle’s 269 points with the Sharks came in 431 games. In 394 games with the Lightning, Boyle recorded 253 points, also winning a Stanley Cup with the club in 2004. Boyle’s point totals started trending downward after the 2011-12 season after surpassing his 35th birthday.
Records
More from Puck Prose
First off was Boyle’s record with the Lightning. On Saturday, December 17th 2016, Hedman recorded an assist to give him his 254th point with the club. With the point, Boyle’s record has forever been replaced. Hedman passed Boyle in his 502nd NHL game, meaning that Hedman required almost a hundred more games to accomplish the feat.
Next up was Burns’ turn to knock Boyle out of the record books. With an assist in the second period, Burns recorded his 270th point. Burns, currently in his sixth season with the Sharks, has suited up for 376 games. Burns, unlike Hedman, required fewer games to surpass Boyle’s record, but has also been touted for his offensive ability. With the point, Burns took over as the Sharks all-time points leader by a defenseman.
There is no question that Dan Boyle was an elite defenseman in his prime, and also that his ability to perform lasted many seasons. The teams that Boyle were on, were bettered by his presence, and although he may no longer have the records, he’ll always have the memories.
More from Puck Prose
This article originally appeared on 
