New York Rangers Dan Boyle
When the New York Rangers most recent (unofficial) retiree, Dan Boyle, became an unrestricted free agent in 2014, he had the opportunity to play for either the Red Wings, Islanders or Blueshirts. I could imagine that right about now he is contemplating how life would have been if he accepted offers from either Detroit or the Islanders. After all, they offered him more money.
Boyle was quoted by BlueShirts United in July of 2014 saying he turned down the larger offers because he wanted to experience what it was like to play for an original six team after playing in two un-traditional hockey markets.
"“I’ve played in Florida and California, two non-traditional hockey markets, so I wanted to — and those places were great — but I just wanted to experience something different,” Boyle said. “An Original Six team and New York was just where I wanted to go.”"
Boyle also let us know that his decision to make the move back east was made easier, due to a friend from his days in Florida, Martin St. Louis. The two kept in touch when Boyle made the move to San Jose and once Boyle hit unrestricted free agency the two friends started playing “what if”. Once the Rangers did extend an offer to Boyle, he was enlightened to find out he would not be the oldest player on the Blueshirts roster and jumped at the opportunity to play for the Rangers organization.
"“Him and I kept in touch. Unfortunately, with the passing of his mom, we talked through that. Him going to the Final, me being a UFA. We kept in touch. I’m not going to be the oldest guy on the team, that’s also why I wanted to go. Marty is definitely a big reason. Him and I have had similar careers. It’s a great opportunity to play with him,” he said, via Rangers Rants."
Flash to the Present
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Boyle ran into a slightly explicit engagement on his way out of New York Rangers “Breakup Day”. However, the guy did gain the respect of his teammates in his short time with the Blueshirts. Even though Boyle was scrutinized by the media for most of the 2015-2016 season and ended up becoming the oldest player on the Rangers roster, which he apparently did not want, he still took a pay-cut to play with an original six team and there is something to be said about that.
New York Rangers to Find the Next (Younger) Boyle
Dan Boyle took a pay cut in order to don the historic Blueshirt, which allowed him to call the “World’s Most Famous Arena” home for a few years. This might not matter to many people today, but it is something that the New York Rangers, and Jeff Gorton, might be looking for this summer. With everyone screaming to buy out Girardi, pressure to dump both Staal brothers and the always popular Nash rumors, it might not be that bad of an idea to try and sell an All-Atar caliber player on the idea of playing with the New York Rangers, an original six team, that with some help, can become serious Cup contenders in 2017.
How large of a pay-cut this potential player may need to take is unknown, just like every other aspect of this dream, but the fact that there are still players out their willing to put their already monstrous incomes aside, and “bite the bullet” for a year or two in order to play with a historic organization, located in the heart of the greatest city in the world, is extremely comforting.
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By no means am I trying to claim that Boyle was an All-Star, and claiming that an All-Star would do this for the New York Rangers and wholeheartedly believing it is slightly ridiculous and comparable to a Miami heat fan still clinging onto an old LeBron jersey thinking, “He may still move his talents back to South Beach.”
What is possible, a mid-grade player flying under the radar and only receiving an offer or two from teams he personally has no interest in. At that point, if it is the right type of player, i.e. a center or defenseman, the New York Rangers should at least extend an offer. What is the worst thing that can happen? They lose a couple thousand dollars and wait another year for a Cup? Crazy.