"He has enough skill to play with Keller and Schmaltz, but at the same time he's a versatile guy," said Head Coach André Tourigny. "Boyd can play on every line; he can play on the wing or center. And whatever the identity of that line will be, he can fit right in."
It's been one of the best opportunities Boyd has received in his NHL career, and he didn't let it fall by the wayside.
"I'd say I looked at it as an opportunity. That was kind of it," said Boyd. "I think if you look at my career prior to playing here, it's been on some good teams but with good teams there isn't a lot of opportunity, and I wanted a chance to come somewhere and really show what I can do. At this point it's gone pretty much to plan, and I couldn't have asked for it to go any better."
Prior to his extension, however, Boyd's future with the club was a bit of an unknown since he was playing this season on an expiring deal. On March 5, the Coyotes and Boyd agreed to the extension which demonstrates that the centerman is a player Armstrong wants in the organization moving forward.
"We are very pleased to sign Travis to a two-year contract extension," said Armstrong. "He is a versatile, skilled center who has been a great addition to our forward group and we look forward to having him on our roster next season."
Now he is under contract with the Coyotes through the 2023-24 season, and Boyd is thrilled with the Coyotes' commitment to him.
"I'm beyond happy," he said. "I'm super excited and super pumped up. Obviously, a big step in my career personally, too, but excited to be here. I'm excited to have a home for the next two years and excited to stay here with this group and this team and organization."
Tourigny knows players like Boyd are valuable both on the ice and in the locker room. Linking him with Dysin Mayo and Liam O'Brien, who both recently signed extensions, the bench boss pointed out that these are examples that hard work and showing resilience will be rewarded.
"They've become really important players on our team in key roles, and they got rewarded," said Tourigny. "So, when we talk about culture and the future here, I think that's a strong message. We'll have other players who will come here and will earn it, and they'll know that we have an open mind. If you earn it and do it, you will be rewarded.
"For Boyd, since he's gotten back in the lineup as a regular, I think he's shown a lot of character and resilience. He brings more than just goals and assists. He brings a really good personality. He's a guy who works really hard and is a good pro. He's a guy who I can trust on both ends of the ice."
