COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Heading into this season, I figured the last thing the Penguins needed was another depth forward.
That was silly enough, considering the Penguins' never-ending injury bug, but the decision to invite Brian Boyle to training camp seemed like nothing more than flailing for toughness and grittiness. This soon-to-be 37-year old depth forward who hadn't played at all during the NHL's most recent season certainly couldn't provide anything the Penguins didn't already have.
Or so I thought.
Appearing in 29 of the team's 42 games thus far, Boyle has recorded five goals and an assist while being a contributor to one of the league's best penalty-killing units.
His goal-scoring, which we'll touch on shortly, wasn't why the Penguins wanted him. He was signed to play on an as-needed basis, and hopefully not sink the team with his ice time.
While it was fair to wonder what Boyle had left, he has put any doubts of his abilities aside as the Penguins have controlled 52.9% of the expected goals with him on the ice at five-on-five, per Evolving Hockey. That mark isn't anything special, and even ranks toward the lower-end of the team's skaters, but it's a sight for sore eyes considering the Penguins controlled a horrendous 41.4% of the expected goals with Mark Jankowski in that role a season ago.
The Penguins have actually been outscored, 9-8, during Boyle's 248 minutes of five-on-five ice time this season, but it's almost entirely due to lack of finishing from his linemates, as the Penguins are generating 2.47 expected goals per hour, but are converting just 1.92 times per hour with Boyle on the ice.
On the individual level, finishing hasn't been a problem at all for Boyle. Tuesday night against the Coyotes, he pulled off a ridiculous between-the-legs goal, and his ability to absolutely wire the puck has been on full display throughout:
In a game against the Canadiens earlier this season, Boyle used his giant frame to prevent his assignment from receiving the puck and, all in the same motion, was able to get the puck into his hip pocket and rifle a shot upstairs.
Getting the puck off his stick in a hurry has contributed to his sniping ability this season, but a larger factor is the length of his stick and how much weight he's able to put on his stick while shooting. Goaltenders are taught to keep the puck, not the puck-carrier, in line with their belly button, but it can cause some misjudgment when the puck is several feet off to the side of the puck-carrier. Combine that with the amount of force Boyle can drive into the shaft of his stick to propel the puck forward, and you've got your answer as to how the heck Boyle is scoring five-on-five goals at a higher rate than all of just three Penguins skaters this season.
FIVE-ON-FIVE GOALS PER HOUR,
PENGUINS SKATERS:
- Jake Guentzel (1.6)
- Evgeni Malkin (1.1)
- Brock McGinn (1.07)
- Boyle (0.97)
- Kasperi Kapanen (0.97)
On top of his blistering wristers, the majority of Boyle's five-on-five attempts this season have come from the heart of the slot, and I imagine we'll see a few more of those go his way down the stretch:

HockeyViz.com
Mike Sullivan seems to have found the sweet spot for Boyle's ice time to maximize his offensive capabilities.
Boyle's playmaking upside is, and always has been rather limited, but his size has allowed for certain plays to transpire that never would've developed if he didn't have a ridiculously long reach:
Against the Golden Knights earlier this season, Boyle wisely darted to the middle of the ice and split the defense as Mike Matheson slung a dime his way to create a partial breakaway.
Boyle's foot speed wouldn't permit a clean path to the goal, so he moved the puck as far away from the defender bearing down on him as possible to create separation and ensure that he got a shot on goal. Notice how he leaned into the defender while also using his bottom hand to hold off the defender's stick. The attempt was turned aside, but Teddy Blueger quickly cleaned up the rebound.
Boyle's success this season has been all about playing within his limitations. He knows he's not dangling around any defenders, and that has allowed him to slow things down and take what the game gives him:
Playing the Senators at home, Boyle was hit with a pass as he raced to tag up in the neutral zone. If he carried the puck forward, both Ottawa defenders would likely converge on him and create a turnover. If he passed horizontally to his support, McGinn, the nearest defender would likely steer it aside.
Instead of forcing either of those options, Boyle slipped an area pass into open ice for McGinn to fly right around the defender and pick the puck up in stride on his way to a decent chance.
Boyle's skating drawbacks occasionally require his wingers to play defense low in their own zone, rather than staying up near their points, but his range has allowed him to park it in the slot and shut down any pucks trying to get worked through the middle:
Coming in late on the backcheck, Boyle was able to stymie a pass attempt between the circles by using his stick like a wand to tie up the recipient.
The sequence caused Boyle to lose his balance and stumble, and the Coyotes were able to regain possession. It wouldn't have been unordinary for a fourth-liner to try and overcompensate for their stumble by darting directly toward the puck, but Boyle calmly gathered himself, surveyed the ice, stayed in position, and seconds later took a big chunk of the shooter's lane away while getting a piece of the shot attempt with his stick.
Looking at where the Penguins' opponents are taking their shots with Boyle on the ice, it's clear he's having an impact on keeping the puck away from the slot:

HockeyViz.com
Then, of course, there is his impact on the penalty-kill.
Just like every other facet of his game, his size and reach are the driving factors. He's able to play slightly less aggressive because he knows passes won't get worked through him, and he'll likely be able to get in the way of many long-distance shots. Sometimes he'll even bait the opposition into thinking there's enough room for a cross-ice pass, only to fling his tree branch of a stick in the way at the last second.
That long stick also goes a long way in making up for his lack of quickness. Instead of needing a stride or two to reach loose pucks on the kill, he can simply swipe the puck out of harm's way:
With Blueger out of the lineup with a broken jaw for the next six to eight weeks, Boyle will have an extended opportunity to solidify the Penguins' fourth line and penalty-kill.
After it looked like he might have to hang up the skates for good, Boyle is utilizing his size and smarts in a league full of youth and speed to remain an effective bottom-of-the-lineup player into his late 30s.