By David Pollak

Defenseman Dan Boyle needed a little time to get over the shock of learning the Tampa Bay Lightning had hung a for-sale sign around his neck. After all, in February he signed a six-year, $40 million contract that included a no-trade clause.

But once Boyle got past that, he said Friday, he warmed up to the idea of waiving that clause and playing for the Sharks.

He already knew Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. He liked the idea that a friend, Rob Blake, had just signed with San Jose. He started in the minors with Evgeni Nabokov as his teammate.

"I'm very excited to be on a team that's going to contend not just next year, but for another six years and maybe beyond that," Boyle said.

The Sharks didn't let a national holiday slow the revamping of their defense, with general manager Doug Wilson significantly changing the team's look on the blue line through two trades.

First he sent defenseman Matt Carle, prospect Ty Wishart, a first-round draft pick in 2009 and a fourth-round pick in 2010 to Tampa Bay for Boyle and another defenseman, Brad Lukowich. Then popular defenseman Craig Rivet and his $3.5 million salary were traded to the Buffalo Sabres for a second-round pick in the next two drafts.

The Rivet trade reflected the fact the Sharks — by adding Boyle one day after they signed Blake to a one-year, $5 million contract — were closing in on the NHL's $57.6 million salary

"When you move people and take on the type of dollars we've taken on, you have to do some other things," Wilson said. "You have to move some dollars and you have to replenish the picks."

Landing Boyle — whom Wilson described as "one of the elite players in this league" — seemed to make all the shuffling worth it.

An offensive-minded defenseman, Boyle is expected to play a role similar to the one Brian Campbell did before bolting for Chicago earlier this week. That includes major responsibilities when the Sharks have the man advantage.

"He'll be the quarterback for our power play for a long time," Wilson said of Boyle, whom the Sharks also targeted just before they added Campbell. "You can hope and wait for people to develop into that role, but he's done it and we expect him to do it here for a long time starting now."

Boyle, who turns 32 this month, began his career with the Florida Panthers before being traded to Tampa Bay in January 2002. With the Lightning, he became an offensive force, helping the team win the Stanley Cup in 2004.

Boyle's productivity continued to increase the next two seasons, with a career best 20 goals and 63 points in 2006-07. Last year, a falling skate cut his wrist in a freak November accident and he was sidelined until late January. Still, he managed four goals and 25 points in 37 games.

Contact David Pollak at dpollak@mercurynews.com.