Report: UFA Boyle set to sign contract in the NHL

In case you missed the news last night, the San Jose Sharks officially welcomed franchise icon Patrick Marleau back into the fold, signing him to a one year, $700,000 contract.

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Now, less than a day later it looks like another veteran unrestricted free agent is on the verge of inking a new deal. NHL insider Bob McKenzie reports that UFA Brian Boyle is attracting “significant interest” from across the league and is expected sign a deal “sooner rather than later.”

“There is significant interest in Boyle,” McKenzie reported on TSN’s latest edition of Insider Trading. “He is talking to a number of teams. But one of those teams either needs to clear some cap space or clear a roster spot in order to sign him. But I would anticipate that there is a strong expectation that Boyle will be back in the NHL sooner rather than later.”

The 34-year-old Boyle scored 18 goals and 24 points in 73 games this past season split between the New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators. He has had NHL stints with the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Devils and Predators.