Photo: Minnesota Men’s Hockey Facebook
The Capials have announced the signing of center Travis Boyd to a two-year entry-level contract.
21-year-old Boyd has spent the past four seasons at the University of Minnesota, where he centered the top line this season, which ended on Friday as the Gophers lost to intrastate rival Minnesota-Duluth in the first round of the Northeast regional tournament. Earlier this month, Minnesota won its first ever Big 10 tournament.
The native of Edina, MN was one day too old to be eligible for the 2012 draft.
Boyd enjoyed his best season in college hockey this year. He was tied for the points lead among Minnesota forwards and cracked the point-per-game plateau for the first time in his career. However, he led the league in shooting percentage, which is a major concern as his ability to sustain high production is still in question.
A 2011 sixth-round pick, Boyd is an undersized multi-dimensional forward who will need development time in Hershey before he can make an impact on the NHL level.
The Caps assigned newly-signed prospect to Hershey, but Boyd is not expected to play for the Bears this year. “At this stage, do I see him getting any games? Probably not,” Hershey Bears head coach Troy Mann told Tim Leone of the Patriot-News. “But you just never know that last week of the season.”
Proud to announce I have signed with the @washcaps! Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way
— Travis Boyd (@Tboyd93) March 31, 2015
ARLINGTON, VA. – The Washington Capitals have signed forward Travis Boyd to a two-year, entry-level contract beginning the 2015-16 season, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Boyd, 21, was drafted by the Capitals in the sixth round, 177th overall, in the 2011 NHL Draft and spent the last four seasons at the University of Minnesota (NCAA). He registered 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) in 32 games with the Gophers this season, setting career highs in goals and points. Boyd matched his single-game career high with three points (two goals, two assists) in Minnesota’s 5-2 win over Wisconsin on Jan. 17 and was named the Big Ten Third Star of the Week on Jan. 20. The 5’10”, 185-pound forward scored the game-winning goal in a 4-2 win against Ohio State on Feb. 6 and netted his first career hat trick on Feb. 7 in a 6-2 win over the Buckeyes. He earned the Big Ten’s First Star of the Week award and the NCAA’s Third Star of the Week on Feb. 10 after collecting five points on the weekend. Boyd scored two goals in the Big Ten Championship, a 4-2 victory over Michigan, and added an assist in the NCAA Tournament in a 4-1 loss to Minnesota Duluth.
Boyd appeared in 41 games during his junior season at Minnesota in 2013-14, ranking third on the team in assists, tied for fourth in points and tied for seventh in goals as the Gophers reached the NCAA national championship game. He was named an All-WCHA Academic honoree for his academic performance during his sophomore season and scored his first NCAA goal during his freshman season against North Dakota in the 2012 NCAA West Regional final to help Minnesota reach the Frozen Four.
Boyd won a gold medal with the United States at the 2011 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, earning six points (two goals, four assists) in six games. At the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the Edina, Minn., native registered three points (one goal, two assists) to help Team USA win the gold medal. He was named the United States’ Player of the Game vs. Sweden in the semifinal.
Boyd will join the Hershey Bears (AHL) on a tryout agreement. He is the first member of the Capitals’ 2011 NHL Draft class to sign with the team.
The Caps have notified the Bears of three other players who might join them late in the year: Jakub Vrana, whose Linkoping is down 0-2 in a best-of-seven SHL semifinal series, as well as WHL defensemen Tyler Lewington and Madison Bowey. Bowey’s Kelowna Rockets and Lewington’s Medicine Hat Tigers are both up 2-0 in the first round of the WHL playoffs.
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