Canadian professional hockey player Dan Boyle is a defenseman for the San Jose Sharks. He was born on July 12, 1976, in Ottawa, Ontario. He is married to Amber Esposito, and together they have one daughter, Eastin Sky Boyle. Dan Boyle grew up speaking French in Ottawa, and emerged from the Collegiate system, rather than the more typical major-junior route. He played four years with the Miami (Ohio) University Redhawks, and was undrafted when he completed his studies. Fortunately, he was signed as a free agent by the Florida Panthers or March 10, 1998, and has emerged as an all-star NHL player.

Dan Boyle is known as a offensive defenseman, who is quick on his feet, and able to effectively lead the Sharks powerplay. Boyle has had a career high 63 points in an NHL season, numbers usually associated for players playing forward, not defense.

Boyle entered the NHL by signing as a free agent with the Florida Panthers on March 30, 1998. He made his NHL debut that same year and split his first three seasons between the Panthers and their American Hockey League affiliates, the Kentucky Thoroughblades and the Louisville Panthers. He played 69 games in the NHL in 2000/01, recording 4 goals and 22 assists, while cementing himself as an NHL regular.

After playing only 25 games with Florida in the 01/02 season, Boyle was traded on January 7, 2002, to the Tampa Bay Lightning. His point totals quickly escalated, with 53 points in 2002/03. While his dropped to only 39 points in 03/04, he helped the team win the Stanley Cup Championship, scoring 10 points in 23 NHL playoff games. Following the lockout, Boyle returned to the Lightning and tied his career high point total with 53 again in 05/06, and established a new benchmark with 63 a year later.

Prior to the 2008/09 season, Dan Boyle was traded to the San Jose Sharks. Joining a star studded lineup in San Jose, Boyle recorded 57 and 58 points in 08/09 and 09/2010. His 14 points in 15 playoff games was invaluable to the Sharks as they made their way to the Western Conference Championship in 2010. However, his playoff season was marred by an own goal scored in overtime to cost his team a game against the Colorado Avalanche in the conference semi-finals.

• 1997: CCHA All-Star Team
• 1997: NCAA All-American Team
• 1998: CCHA All-Star Team
• 1998: NCAA All-American Team
• 1999: AHL All-Rookie Team
• 2005: World Ice Hockey Championships, silver medal

• 1991-94: Gloucester Rangers, CJHL
• 1994-98: Miami University Redskins
• 1998: Signed with the Florida Panthers
• 1998-99: Kentucky Thoroughblades, AHL
• 1998-02: Florida Panthers
• 1999-01: Louisville Panthers, AHL
• 2002-04: Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2004-05: Djurgardens IF Stockholm, Elitserien
• 2005-present: Tampa Bay Lightning