Confirmed Signing with Link: [ARI] Travis Boyd signs with the Coyotes (1 year, $750k)

[Mosby]

IMHO, the problem with Arizona is that you have an owner who doesn't understand hockey -- and doesn't even like hockey -- but is trying to leverage his ownership of the Coyotes into being able to buy what he really wants, being an NBA team (look it up, he unsuccessfully tried to acquire the Atlanta Hawks some years ago). So long as you have an owner like that, the odds of anything good happening are really small. Your best scenario would be if he gets his NBA team and then sells the Coyotes to somebody who actually likes hockey and is determined to build a championship team.

An owner who is also a hockey fan sounds terrible. Interference and meddling. Just cut the cheques and we're happy.

 

[Ctrain2k]

IMHO, the problem with Arizona is that you have an owner who doesn't understand hockey -- and doesn't even like hockey -- but is trying to leverage his ownership of the Coyotes into being able to buy what he really wants, being an NBA team (look it up, he unsuccessfully tried to acquire the Atlanta Hawks some years ago). So long as you have an owner like that, the odds of anything good happening are really small. Your best scenario would be if he gets his NBA team and then sells the Coyotes to somebody who actually likes hockey and is determined to build a championship team.

That sounds like the perfect owner, someone who signs the cheques and doesn’t give a shit.

 

[JAK]

IMHO, the problem with Arizona is that you have an owner who doesn't understand hockey -- and doesn't even like hockey -- but is trying to leverage his ownership of the Coyotes into being able to buy what he really wants, being an NBA team (look it up, he unsuccessfully tried to acquire the Atlanta Hawks some years ago). So long as you have an owner like that, the odds of anything good happening are really small. Your best scenario would be if he gets his NBA team and then sells the Coyotes to somebody who actually likes hockey and is determined to build a championship team.

How is Arizona not determines to build a championship team? Every move this off season follows a direct path to success, rebuild for a few years.

An owner who is also a hockey fan sounds terrible. Interference and meddling. Just cut the cheques and we're happy.

I wish the Canucks have an owner like that.

 

[Rydgar]

He doesn't really....do anything well. Doesn't PK, PP, FO% is 40ish and he isn't physical. His 5on5 numbers are okay except that that's only because he mostly only gets offensive zone faceoffs. Coaches don't trust him for defensive zone starts so instead he takes away prime offensive zone time from your top players.

 

[Kai Yo T]

IMHO, the problem with Arizona is that you have an owner who doesn't understand hockey -- and doesn't even like hockey -- but is trying to leverage his ownership of the Coyotes into being able to buy what he really wants, being an NBA team (look it up, he unsuccessfully tried to acquire the Atlanta Hawks some years ago). So long as you have an owner like that, the odds of anything good happening are really small. Your best scenario would be if he gets his NBA team and then sells the Coyotes to somebody who actually likes hockey and is determined to build a championship team.

I'm just happy we finally have an owner with enough wealth to actually run an NHL team for once. The way they're doing things right now looks promising too. I'm excited to suck this year. Hopefully they'll make it wright.

 

[Hoglander]

That's some stiff competition for Roussel, Beagle, and Eriksson to deal with.

 

[ponder]

I have no idea what to make of this player.

Seems like he's light in the ass by NHL standards, and doesn't hit. Doesn't kill penalties or win face-offs. Yet he's only got a 0.33 points per game in the NHL (though, that's with only 10m TOI/GP), despite being a month away from turning 28.

I wouldn't normally bother commenting as I would assume this is an AHL signing. But then I read this quote from Bill Armstrong and I'm baffled:

"We are pleased to have Travis join the Coyotes," said Armstrong. "He is a versatile, two-way center who can fill a lot of different roles for our club."

He’s pretty decent offensively for a 4th liner, works hard, and doesn’t make many mistakes.

But yeah, he’s small-ish, not physical, mediocre defensively, bad on draws and doesn’t contribute on special teams.

Overall, a decent 13th/14th type forward.

 

[rt]

That's some stiff competition for Roussel, Beagle, and Eriksson to deal with.

Don't forget Ladd and Fischer. That's okay, the Yotes seem to be aiming to replace him with Shane Wright.

 

[Osprey]

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Can you expand on this? Normally I would look for 4th liners that can either hit and fight and/or kill penalties. It looks like he doesn't do any of that. He's a career 41% on FOs, too. So no defensive zone, right-handed center, FO specialist or anything. He isn't listed as particularly tall and he's pretty light. So I imagine there isn't much power in his game, for cycling the puck. Heck, it looks like his Off. Zone Start % is 68.13 - which seems odd for someone like this?

What would you say he does well from the 4th line?

I don't think Boyd does anything really well for a 4th liner except bring some creativity. Boyd's issue is that he's a skilled player whose game is best suited for a scoring role but he's not good enough to play in a scoring role consistently. He's a pretty decent skater with sneaky good hands and he's really smart, especially in the offensive zone. He's not strong physically and relies more on smarts to protect the puck than strength so he can't really "muck it up" like other bottom six forwards.

Basically, it's hard to find him a spot consistently in the lineup because he's not great at any one thing. He's really solid filling in temporarily if a skilled guy goes down and he does well bringing some offense to the bottom six but given his faceoff deficiencies and his lack of strength he's not suited to be counted on to eat defensive zone assignments, so he's more of a fill-in than a regular.

 

[rt]

I don't think Boyd does anything really well for a 4th liner except bring some creativity. Boyd's issue is that he's a skilled player whose game is best suited for a scoring role but he's not good enough to play in a scoring role consistently. He's a pretty decent skater with sneaky good hands and he's really smart, especially in the offensive zone. He's not strong physically and relies more on smarts to protect the puck than strength so he can't really "muck it up" like other bottom six forwards.

Basically, it's hard to find him a spot consistently in the lineup because he's not great at any one thing. He's really solid filling in temporarily if a skilled guy goes down and he does well bringing some offense to the bottom six but given his faceoff deficiencies and his lack of strength he's not suited to be counted on to eat defensive zone assignments, so he's more of a fill-in than a regular.

I’m only being a little bit of a smart ass here but don’t they usually call these guys “AHLer”? Why would this particular get a one-way contract? Aren’t there 50 just like him in the minors? That sounds like a classic AHL guy or KHL import.

EDIT: Also - thank you!

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

I’m only being a little bit of a smart ass here but don’t they usually call these guys “AHLer”? Why would this particular get a one-way contract? Aren’t there 50 just like him in the minors? That sounds like a classic AHL guy or KHL import.

EDIT: Also - thank you!

I thought Arizona was fielding an AHL team this year

Honestly I don’t know why he got a one way. Maybe AZ liked him more than others or maybe other teams were interested and they had to give a one way because Arizona isn’t going to be competitive this year.

 

[rt]

I thought Arizona was fielding an AHL team this year

Honestly I don’t know why he got a one way. Maybe AZ liked him more than others or maybe other teams were interested and they had to give a one way because Arizona isn’t going to be competitive this year.

I hope he’s there I order to force the coaching staff to be patient with Barrett Hayton and Jan Jenik. Hopefully this one way contract keeps them down in Tucson on what is hopefully a very good AHL team. We don’t need our top prospects playing 4th line minutes on the worst team in the NHL. We need them playing 1st line minutes on hopefully a very good AHL team. If Travis Boyd having a one way deal makes that happen, then he is well worth it.

 

[AZviaNJ]

Let me introduce to you our new #1 center for year 2021-2024.

Kyle Chipchura v2.0

 

[rt]

Kyle Chipchura v2.0

Chipchura hit four times as often per game, fought several times a year, won most of his face-offs, and killed penalties. I would LOVE to add a Kyle Chipchura v2.0. This guy is not that. Strikes me more as a very poor man's Kyle Wellwood. Like a Kyle Wellwood mixed with a Jeff Taffe.

 

[Schemp]

I see capfriendly hasn't verified if the contract is indeed a 1-way or 2-way, just the initial listing of what he would make playing in the NHL.

 

[smitty10]

Travis Boyd was excellent for the Leafa last year before he was picked up by Vancouver. Was hoping he'd sign back here.

This guy is a much better player than I expected when we signed him last year. Caps fans said the same things I'm saying. Yotes fans will enjoy watching him.

 

[rt]

I see capfriendly hasn't verified if the contract is indeed a 1-way or 2-way, just the initial listing of what he would make playing in the NHL.

It’s one-way.

 

[Hivemind]

Giving Boyd a one-way contract is fine. He's a fine depth scorer and energy forward. He limits mistakes and chances against, so it's not like he's a liability on the ice. And he does provide a little offense and jump to his game, particularly when paired with other skilled players. If a scoring line forward gets hurt, he can slot up the line-up as a replacement well enough. On a deep team he'd be a healthy scratch that you bring in for offensive pop after injuries, but there are worse every-day players in the NHL. Not every 4th liner has to be a PK specialist or faceoff specialist. It's fine if some of them are just high-motor guys who keep the puck away from their own net, which Boyd is alright at.


Hell, if everything goes sour, at only $750K this contact can be buried in the AHL with no cap penalty anyway.

 

[Schemp]

It’s one-way.

The web site only says that the terms are not disclosed, but anyways the cap hit is insignificant. I'm also starting to believe the team 'is' on a budget of some sorts, not because AM can't afford it, but that he plans on building a Coliseum with his own money and hopefully completed by the time next years draft picks be ready for the NHL.
As for Boyd, I see him as a 4th line RW, not a center (unless neccessary) and O'Brien as the 4th line agitator center with Boyd on the wing.

 

[rt]

The web site only says that the terms are not disclosed, but anyways the cap hit is insignificant. I'm also starting to believe the team 'is' on a budget of some sorts, not because AM can't afford it, but that he plans on building a Coliseum with his own money and hopefully completed by the time next years draft picks be ready for the NHL.
As for Boyd, I see him as a 4th line RW, not a center (unless neccessary) and O'Brien as the 4th line agitator center with Boyd on the wing.

It’s a one way contract. Confirmed by Craig Morgan. Who confirms things by asking the team. This is 100% confirmed.

 

[QuadDeuces]

Did they somehow get a 2nd round pick in this signing?

 

[Jannik Hansen]

Brad Richardson was a fourth line plug on the Canucks, then he became the Coyotes' leading scorer.

Travis Boyd is going to anchor the first line.

Richardson was a 3rd line stud for the Canucks, actually.

 

[Schemp]

Richardson was a 3rd line stud for the Canucks, actually.

Stat boy loved his advanced stats, that's why the Coyotes signed him and gave him a bigger role.