Dan Boyle: Maxim Lapierre Didn’t Try To Injure, But Showed No Respect

Oct 15, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle (22) is taken off the ice after being injured during the first period against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

When San Jose Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle rejoined the team during its East Coast swing earlier this week, he didn’t seem all that interested in talking about the hit he sustained from St. Louis Blues forward Maxim Lapierre that hospitalized him for a night on Oct. 15.

After a couple of days back, however, Boyle spoke to David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News Saturday morning and acknowledged that Lapierre didn’t intend to send Boyle to the hospital, but the same time showed a lack of respect for Boyle and the game itself.

"“I don’t think he thought he was going to put me in the hospital with the hit, so I agree with him that wasn’t his intention,” Boyle said. “At the same time, we’re told since we were 5 years old not to hit a guy when you see numbers and it’s pretty clear he saw my numbers and he decided to hit anyway. That’s just lack of respect is what I think.”"

As you can see in the video below, Lapierre drove Boyle into the boards from behind, knocking Boyle out.

Lapierre is still serving a five-game suspension for the hit. Boyle, meanwhile, doesn’t appear to be interested in an apology, according to CSNBayArea.com.

"“He left a message,” Boyle said. “I think it’s been documented that I didn’t take the call. I’ll leave it at that for now.”"

Boyle skated with his teammates on Saturday morning, but will not play in Saturday night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. There is no timetable for his return to action.

The veteran who has been with the Sharks since coming over in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning in July 2008 now says he still blames Lapierre for making a bad decision on the hit, but said he might do the same thing, depending on the circumstances.

"“We’ve all been playing long enough that in a split-second, we’re conditioned to make that decision,” Boyle said. “A lot of guys would probably choose to not hit there and vice versa for me, too. There’s a lot of guys in the league where I wouldn’t hit and—I’m not going to lie—there’s probably a handful that I would.”"

One can only imagine that Lapierre might make that short list.

Boyle has a goal and an assist in six games for the Sharks this season after notching 20 points on seven goals and 13 helpers during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign. He won a Stanley Cup in 2004 as a member of the Lightning.