First, it indicated that Joel Quenneville wasn’t particularly pleased with his depth options. Second, it showed there are young players he’s not quite ready to trust yet. And third, most notably, it indicated that those young players that Quenneville doesn’t trust aren’t developed to where they should be.
Boyle’s signing addresses a perceived immediate issue, but doesn’t address a longer-term concern: why aren’t those young players “ready” when they should be?
Boyle will be 35 in December, and at best, is a neutral possession player who can chip a little offense in the bottom six.