Travis Boyd

History

2008-09: Travis Boyd led Hopkins HS in Minnesota in scoring for the second straight season. In 26 games, he scored 26 goals with 25 assists and was +21 plus/minus. Boyd finished with 98 points in two years of high school hockey. Boyd committed to playing college hockey at the University of Minnesota in 2011-12.

2009-10: Boyd joined the US National Development Team program in Ann Arbor, playing for the U-17 squad and also appearing in one game with the U-18 team. In 35 USHL games with the U-17 team, he scored 8 goals with 18 assists. In 52 non-USHL contests, he scored 10 goals with 14 assists. Boyd was scoreless in his lone U-18 game and also played with the USA squad at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge scoring 1 goal with 2 assists in six games.

2010-11: Boyd split the season between the US NDTP U-17 and U-18 squads and also represented the US at the World Junior U-18 Championships. He scored 13 goals with 25 assists in 60 games for the U-18 squad. Boyd scored 2 goals with 4 assists in six games for Team USA, including an assist in the gold medal game as the Americans captured their third straight U-18 World Championship with a 4-3 overtime win over Sweden. In 24 USHL games with the U-17 squad, Boyd scored 5 goals with 13 assists. Boyd was not among the North American forwards listed on the final Central Scouting rankings and was selected by the Capitals in the 6th round (177th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

2011-12: Boyd skated in 35 games for the University of Minnesota as a freshman. He scored his first collegiate goal (and only goal of the year) in the Gophers' 5-2 win over North Dakota in the NCAA West Regional final. Playing primarily with the Gophers' third and fourth lines, he had eight assists and was plus-two with 4 penalty minutes. Minnesota finished first in the WCHA but were upset by North Dakota in the league tournament before avenging the loss to the Fighting Sioux in the NCAA tournament the following week.

 

Talent Analysis

Boyd was one of the younger players taken in the 2011 NHL draft. A skilled forward and big-time scorer in high school hockey, Boyd developed refined his game and is proficient in all aspects of tactical play after two years in the NDTP program. He does not play an overly physical style but is a cerebral player with the passing and stick handling skills to make the players around him better.

 

Future

Boyd is playing at the University of Minnesota. Long-term, Boyd has the potential to be a forward capable of playing in all situations. While he may not be the impact scorer that he was in high school hockey, his attention to detail in all facets of the game suggest he can one day be a valuable two-way forward at the pro level.