NHL veteran diagnosed with cancer

NHL veteran Brian Boyle has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of bone-marrow cancer that the team's doctor says can be treated with medication. Incredibly, the 32-year-old forward still wants to play in the New Jersey Devils opener on October 7 against the Colorado Avalanche.

Boyle said:

I don't like missing games. I feel as close to normal as you can feel. 

I feel very fortunate, very blessed. We've had a tremendous outpouring of prayers, and if there's anything I can ask is that that continues, because that's something I've seen firsthand heal cancers and heal situations that were said to be untreatable. 

For us, we're in a good spot, we have a good plan of attack here, and I'm looking forward to getting on the ice and playing. When that happens, I don't know, but my mindset is on October 7.

Boyle signed a two-year contract with a $2.75M cap hit in the offseason with the Devils. He previously played for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs, developing a reputiation as a gritty, defensive center.