Lamoriello rewards Leafs for strong play with Boyle trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs earned Brian Boyle.

The veteran center - who's played a ton of playoff hockey over the past few years - was acquired by Toronto in a trade with Tampa Bay on Monday, and the players he's joining can consider Boyle a reward for their strong play through three quarters of the season.

"It goes to show they have a lot of faith in the group here," winger James van Riemsdyk said of the trade, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.

The plan is for Boyle to center Toronto's fourth line with Matt Martin and - for the time being - Josh Leivo, while he'll also see duty on the penalty kill and in front of the net on the power play, according to head coach Mike Babcock.

The Leafs are hopeful that Boyle - flying out west from Tampa Bay - will be in their lineup Tuesday night in San Jose.