Travis Boyd Explained

Travis Boyd
Team:Minnesota Wild
League:NHL
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Washington Capitals
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks
Arizona Coyotes
Position:Forward
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:184
Shoots:Right
Birth Date:14 September 1993
Birth Place:Hopkins, Minnesota, U.S.
Draft Team:Washington Capitals
Draft:177th overall
Draft Year:2011
Career Start:2015

Travis Boyd (born September 14, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Boyd was selected in the 6th round, 177th overall, by the Washington Capitals in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Playing career

Boyd played four collegiate seasons of NCAA Division I hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Big Ten Conference. With the Gophers, Boyd won a Big Ten Championship in the 2014–15 season, and was named to the Big Ten second All-Star team for that same season.[2] At the age of 17, he became the youngest player drafted in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft when he was selected 177th overall by the Washington Capitals.[3]

On March 31, 2015, the Washington Capitals signed Boyd to a two-year, entry-level contract, beginning in the 2015–16 season.[4] Boyd signed a tryout agreement for the Capitals' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hershey Bears, for the remainder of the 2014–15 season.[5] He played two games for the Bears, registering a goal and an assist. Boyd re-signed with the Capitals on July 5, 2017.[6] He made his NHL debut on December 4, 2017, due to injuries to the Capitals regular line up.[7] He recorded his first career NHL point against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 18, 2018. He won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals on June 7, 2018. He finished the season with 8 games, registering the one point and played in one playoff game.[8]

On July 1, the Capitals re-signed Boyd to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $800,000.[9] Despite suffering an injury in the preseason,[10] Boyd began the 2018–19 season in the NHL. Boyd scored his first NHL goal on December 9 in a 4–0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on a pass from team captain Alex Ovechkin.[11] He played in 24 games recording 10 points during the regular season. However, his poor play during the playoffs saw him scratched after game 2 versus the New York Islanders. At the end of the season, the Capitals did not extend a qualifying offer to Boyd and he became an unrestricted free agent.[12]

As a free agent, Boyd signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 10, 2020.[13] During the pandemic-shorted 2020–21 season Boyd scored 3 goals and registered 8 points in 20 games with the Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs attempted to transfer Boyd to the taxi squad near the trade deadline, forcing them to put him on waivers.[14] On March 22, 2021, Boyd was claimed off waivers by the Vancouver Canucks.[15] He played in 19 games with the Canucks scoring 2 goals.[16]

On August 3, 2021, Boyd signed as a free agent to a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Arizona Coyotes.[17] Boyd was considered a depth forward on his previous teams[12] and was not considered a top forward upon joining the Coyotes.[16] However, on the Coyotes he played on the top power play unit.[18] During the pandemic-shortened 2021–22 season, Boyd scored 10 goals and 34 points in 46 games.[19] On March 5, 2022, Boyd signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract to stay with the Coyotes.[20]

After three seasons with the Coyotes, Boyd left as a free agent following their relocation as Utah Hockey Club. He was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2024.[21]

Personal life

Boyd and his wife Kelsey have one daughter together.[22]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2008–09Hopkins High SchoolHSMN2626255122
2009–10U.S. NTDP JuniorsUSHL358101818
2009–10U.S. NTDP U17USDP5210142422
2009–10U.S. NTDP U18USDP10000
2010–11U.S. NTDP JuniorsUSHL245131810
2010–11U.S. NTDP U18USDP6013253816
2011–12University of MinnesotaWCHA351894
2012–13University of MinnesotaWCHA40311148
2013–14University of MinnesotaB1G419233218
2014–15University of MinnesotaB1G3219224110
2014–15Hershey BearsAHL21120
2015–16Hershey BearsAHL7621325324212794
2016–17Hershey BearsAHL7616476316121782
2017–18Hershey BearsAHL6115324712
2017–18Washington CapitalsNHL8011210000
2018–19Hershey BearsAHL20112
2018–19Washington CapitalsNHL5351520610000
2019–20Washington CapitalsNHL243710241010
2019–20Hershey BearsAHL44262
2020–21Toronto Maple LeafsNHL203582
2020–21Vancouver CanucksNHL192020
2021–22Arizona CoyotesNHL7417183534
2022–23Arizona CoyotesNHL8215193426
2023–24Arizona CoyotesNHL162682
NHL totals29647711187461010

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2010United StatesU1761230
2011United StatesWJC1862462
Junior totals 123692

Awards and honours

AwardYear
College
WCHA All-Academic Team2013
B1G Second All-Star Team2015
AHL
Second All-Star Team2017[23]
NHL
Stanley Cup (Washington Capitals)2018[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U's Travis Boyd signs two-year deal with Washington Capitals . . 2015-03-31 . 2015-03-31.
  2. Web site: Travis Boyd . Minnesota Gophers . October 10, 2020.
  3. Web site: Vogel . Mike . Boyd Looks to Take Last Step of Long Climb . NHL.com . Washington Capitals . September 15, 2018.
  4. Web site: Capitals sign Boyd to two-year, entry-level contract. NHL.com . May 21, 2018 . March 31, 2015.
  5. Bears Sign Travis Boyd to ATO . Hershey Bears . oursportscentral.com . May 21, 2018 . April 7, 2015.
  6. Web site: Capitals Re-sign Travis Boyd . NHL.com . May 21, 2018. July 5, 2017.
  7. Web site: El-Bashir . Tarik . With Burakovsky and Stephenson out, Travis Boyd will make his long-awaited NHL debut . NBC Sports Washington . May 21, 2018 . December 4, 2017.
  8. Web site: Capitals re-sign centre Travis Boyd to two-year deal . Sportsnet . July 1, 2018 . November 18, 2022.
  9. Web site: Capitals Re-sign Travis Boyd . Washington Capitals . NHL.com . December 16, 2018 . July 1, 2016.
  10. Web site: Regan . J.J. . After more bad luck, Travis Boyd is finally nearing a return to the lineup . NBC Sports Washington . December 16, 2018 . October 30, 2018.
  11. Web site: A pair of firsts: Jaskin, Boyd score first goals for the Caps . Regan . J. J. . 2018-12-09 . NBC Sports Washington . 2018-12-09.
  12. Web site: Capitals give qualifying offer to Jonas Siegenthaler, not Travis Boyd . NBC Sports Washington . Regan . J. J. . October 7, 2020 . November 18, 2022.
  13. Web site: Maple Leafs sign forward Travis Boyd to one-year contract . Sportsnet . October 10, 2020 . October 10, 2020.
  14. Web site: Canucks claim Travis Boyd off waivers from Maple Leafs . Sportsnet . Johnston . Chris . March 22, 2021 . November 18, 2022.
  15. Web site: Kuzma . Ben . Canucks claim Travis Boyd off waivers from Maple Leafs as trade deadline nears . The Province . March 24, 2021 . March 22, 2021.
  16. Web site: Coyotes sign depth centre Travis Boyd to one-year contract . Sportsnet . August 3, 2021 . November 18, 2022.
  17. Web site: Coyotes Sign Boyd to One-Year Contract . Arizona Coyotes . NHL.com . August 3, 2021 . August 4, 2021.
  18. Web site: Coyotes' Travis Boyd: Helps out on power play again . CBS Sports . November 13, 2022 . November 18, 2022.
  19. Web site: Coyotes sign center Travis Boyd to 2-year contract . USA Today . Associated Press . March 5, 2022 . November 18, 2022.
  20. Web site: Coyotes sign F Boyd to two-year extension . TSN . March 5, 2022 . November 18, 2022.
  21. Web site: Minnesota Wild agrees to terms with eight players . . July 1, 2024 . July 2, 2024 .
  22. Web site: Capitals prospect Travis Boyd dedicates 4-goal performance to sick daughter . bardown.com . February 18, 2018 . October 10, 2020.
  23. Web site: 2016–17 American Hockey League First and Second All-Star Teams Named . OurSports Central . April 6, 2017.
  24. Web site: The Washington Capitals, after years of frustration, win the Stanley Cup . . 2018-06-07 . 2018-06-07.