Playing career

Boynton grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Nobleton, Ontario with the NobleKing Knights before moving to AAA with the Richmond Hill-Vaughan Kings of the OMHA. He played bantam AAA with the Kings before signing as a 15-year-old with the Caledon Canadians Jr.A. club of the Metro Junior Hockey League in 1994-95. He was a standout for four seasons with the OHL's Ottawa 67's, finishing his junior career in 1998-99 with 59 points in 51 games.

Boynton was originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. After failing to come to terms on a contract with the Capitals, Boynton was eligible to return to the draft, and he was subsequently selected in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. Boynton played for the Bruins until 2005-06.

His best season was 2003-04 when he registered 30 points. During the NHL lockout season of 2004-05, Boynton played for the Nottingham Panthers in the British Elite Ice Hockey League, memorably scoring the equalizing goal in the British Championship Grand Final. On June 26, 2006, he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for fellow defenceman Paul Mara.

After two seasons with the Coyotes Boynton was traded at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft along with Keith Ballard and a second round pick to the Florida Panthers for Olli Jokinen on June 20, 2008. In the 2008-09 season, Boynton regained his scoring touch and posted 21 points in 68 games for the Panthers. During the season on February 27, 2009, Boynton was sent home from a Panthers road trip and missed three games for disciplinary reasons, later revealed to be after an argument with coach Peter DeBoer.

On July 9, 2009, he signed a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks for the 2009-10 season. After playing in 42 games with the Ducks. Boynton was placed on waivers on February 1, 2010. He was then assigned to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

On March 2, 2010, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, he was then assigned to AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. Boynton was later recalled to the Blackhawks and made his debut in a 4-2 loss to the Ducks on March 17, 2010. On June 9, 2010, he won his first Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks.

On February 26, 2011, Boynton was claimed off of waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers, with whom he played ten games to conclude the 2010-11 season. He retired after the season.

Personal life

Boynton married for the first time August 3, 2012 to former Chicago media personality Jen Patterson. Boynton and his wife had their first child together In June 2013, Harland Grace. They then had a son, Russell John, in December 2014. Boynton also has two daughters, Emmerson & Bryar, from a previous relationship.

Shortly before his first NHL training camp, Boynton was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes, but the disease has not affected his ability to play hockey.

Awards and achievements

• 1996 — OHL All-Rookie Team
• 1999 — Memorial Cup All-Star Team
• 1999 — Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy (Memorial Cup MVP)
• 2002 — NHL All-Rookie Team
• 2002 — Played in NHL YoungStars Game
• 2004 — Played in NHL All-Star Game
• 2010 — Stanley Cup

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995-96	Ottawa 67's	OHL		64	10	14	24	90		4	0	3	3	10
1996-97	Ottawa 67's	OHL		63	13	51	64	143		24	4	24	28	38
1997-98	Ottawa 67's	OHL		40	7	31	38	94		13	0	4	4	24
1998-99	Ottawa 67's	OHL		51	11	48	59	83		9	1	9	10	18
1999-00	Providence Bruins	AHL		53	5	14	19	66		12	1	0	1	6
1999-00	Boston Bruins	NHL		5	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Providence Bruins	AHL		78	6	27	33	105		17	0	2	2	35
2000-01	Boston Bruins	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Boston Bruins	NHL		80	4	14	18	107		6	1	2	3	8
2002-03	Boston Bruins	NHL		78	7	17	24	99		5	0	1	1	4
2003-04	Boston Bruins	NHL		81	6	24	30	98		7	0	2	2	2
2004-05	Nottingham Panthers	EIHL		9	1	3	4	4		6	1	2	3	22
2005-06	Boston Bruins	NHL		54	5	7	12	93		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		59	2	9	11	138		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		79	3	9	12	125		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Florida Panthers	NHL		68	5	16	21	91		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Anaheim Ducks	NHL		42	1	6	7	59		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Manitoba Moose	AHL		9	0	4	4	4		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		6	0	1	1	18		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		7	0	1	1	12		3	0	0	0	2
2010-11	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		41	1	7	8	36		—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		10	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				605	34	110	144	862		21	1	5	6	16

[ Source: Wikipedia ]