Grading the 2011 Philadelphia Flyers: Nick Boynton

by Travis Hughes on Jun 3, 2011 7:45 PM EDT in Philadelphia Flyers Season Grades

We continue our annual, player-by-player look at the 2010-11 Philadelphia Flyers. In no particular order, we'll analyze one player per day (or so) over the next few weeks. Up today, late-season waiver claim Nick Boynton.

Nick Boynton

#24 / Defenseman / Philadelphia Flyers

Height: 6-1

Weight: 218

Born: Jan 14, 1979

10/11 Salary: $500,000

11/12 Salary: UFA

11/12 Cap Hit: UFA

Partner: Um, everybody?

Depth Chart Ranking: No. 8 D

Basic Stats	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	SOG	BkS	Hits	PK TOI/G	TOI/G	TkA
with Flyers	10	0	0	0	-3	4	1	13	11	0:10	10:14	0
Adv. Stats (key)	TOI/60	CorsiRelQoC	CorsiRelQoT	Pts/60	GF/60	GA/60	OZ%	Fen%	Corsi%	CorsiRel	Sh%	Sv%
full season	13.37	-0.917	-0.791	0.70	2.73	2.90	49.1	37.5	36.3%	-8.2	9.20	0.895

It's Friday night... time to get some of these pointless grades out of the way.

Expectations: We wanted one thing out of Nick Boynton this season. In the wake of the injury to Chris Pronger, Paul Holmgren went out and claimed Boynton off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks to provide some depth on defense. A No. 7 defenseman was all we needed. Did we get that?

Grading criteria: We assign grades on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being the best. We base our grades on expectations, execution on those expectations and a player's overall potential. A 10 means that the player had a fantastic, expectation-surpassing season. A 1 means that he was horrible and needs to go. Like, yesterday.

It's tough to say. Boynton only played 10 games in orange and black, so looking at the stats really don't explain things well enough for us. What we do know, however, is that Danny Syvret took his spot by the end of the regular season and the postseason, pushing Boynton down the depth chart and permanently out of a uniform. Boynton's last game as a Flyer came on April 1.

What's that tell me? The coaches didn't think he was getting the job done. Plain and simple.

The grade: Ultimately, the grade doesn't matter in the slightest bit. He didn't hurt the team. He didn't help the team. He didn't take salary from any other player (although he did cause quite the unnecessary uproar when he was picked up).

He was inconsequential. For that reason, we'll smack him right in the middle at a 5.

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Comments

I never saw an explanation as to why he left the team during the playoffs. Does anyone know?

by mtitanic on Jun 3, 2011 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

I heard it was some family issue, but nothing more specific than that, if that’s. even correct.

by btowl1818 on Jun 3, 2011 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions

That is what I had heard as well.

by PowerOfBauer on Jun 3, 2011 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Really could have skipped it lol.

It's in his wheelhouse!!
Carlos Ruiz, My Nickname is Chooch.

by Dr. Steve on Jun 3, 2011 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

Well, they graded David Laliberte last year for 11 games, I mean, it’s only fair that Boynton gets a grade….

by DragonGirl0583 on Jun 4, 2011 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m looking forward to the Ben Holmstrom grading.

Bob.

by The Dark on Jun 4, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m just upset he wore #24. Sami is still one of my favorite Flyers and I didn’t think Boynton deserved to wear his number. (Yes I understand this is ridiculous but when I was really young that’s how I chose my favorite players- hello Mike Lieberthal- and then Sami came along and I basically fell in love with the tiny Finn).

by cova24 on Jun 4, 2011 12:03 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t care if it’s ridiculous, I understand where you’re coming from because I didn’t want him wearing Sami’s number either. I also wasn’t too happy with Kalinski wearing Rico’s number; I think it’s just a natural reaction for some of us with players we’re really attached to.

by DragonGirl0583 on Jun 4, 2011 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m giving him a 4… we don’t even get a poll for this one?

I’m subtracting 1 from your grade because, to be totally honest, my first thought when I started reading the article was “Wow, he managed to play in 10 games? I thought it was less”. In all of those 10 games he made me nervous more than he seemed just ‘below average’, so the combined effect for me was to knock him down a peg further than you guys did.

by DragonGirl0583 on Jun 4, 2011 12:05 AM EDT reply actions

I wonder what his total ice time was.

It's in his wheelhouse!!
Carlos Ruiz, My Nickname is Chooch.

by Dr. Steve on Jun 4, 2011 4:19 AM EDT up reply actions

13:37 is it? It’s late give me a break.

It's in his wheelhouse!!
Carlos Ruiz, My Nickname is Chooch.

by Dr. Steve on Jun 4, 2011 4:19 AM EDT up reply actions

4? Not even that high. Boynton deserves a “Thank You” and a pat on the back and a bus ticket out of Philly.

by NickFotiu4HOF on Jun 4, 2011 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

He started out as our 6th defender and ended way lower than that. I loved the signing, it was low risk/middle reward and it was a FAIL. But it was a great move by Homer.

by OrangeNblacK on Jun 4, 2011 3:57 PM EDT reply actions