Nick Boynton, NHL All-Star.

The words flow well, although they still sound strange. But they’re accurate. On Thursday night, the Bruins defenseman received the word that he’s heading to Minnesota in two weeks to play alongside the game’s elite.

Boynton was selected by the league as one of six defensemen to represent the Eastern Conference, and will join teammate Joe Thornton in the game on Feb. 8.

No one has mirrored the Bruins’ roller-coaster season more closely than Boynton. At times, he’s been the team’s best defenseman, a rock-solid player who can dish out a hit and join the rush. At other times he has seemed lost, struggling to find his confidence in the jungle of an NHL defensive zone.

He’s played extremely well lately. Boynton once again is jumping up and joining the attack at the right time. On Tuesday, he responded to the early physical challenge posed by the Rangers. The Bruins were without resident enforcers Sandy McCarthy and Doug Doull, and New York’s Matthew Barnaby wanted to fight. Boynton stepped in and took care of business.

You won’t get named to the All-Star team for fighting, but you will if you can excel in all parts of your game. Just ask a guy who did just that for more than two decades.

“Your No. 1 priority is keeping the other team from scoring,” said Ray Bourque Thursday night. “It’s great to see a guy like (Boynton) getting this kind of honor.”

Bourque was the man who announced that Boynton had become a Bruin. Boynton was the team’s first pick in the 1999 draft, held at the FleetCenter. In a nice gesture, the B’s had No. 77 step up to the podium and make the announcement.

A passing of the torch? Not quite. No one’s claiming the legacy of Bruins defenseman is now Shore to Orr to Bourque to Boynton. Still, when Boynton is playing with confidence, he has a style that in a small way shows flashes of Bourque. You can’t pigeonhole him as an offensive guy or a stay-at-home guy. The sum of his game is better than the individual parts.

Boynton has overcome adversity to get to this point. He was diagnosed with diabetes when he arrived for his first Bruins training camp. He struggled mightily and battled through an up-and-down season in the AHL.

“When I started in Providence, I didn’t picture myself getting to this point,” Boynton said, “so I’m real happy with the way things worked out. The Bruins stuck with me even though I struggled at the start of my pro career. I’m just very fortunate and real happy.”

Boynton is a big reason why the Bruins started with a seven-game unbeaten streak. He’s been delivering the big hit in his own end and getting more involved in the offense. At 25, his best years still should be ahead of him.

“This should really help his confidence,” said Bourque.

If it does, a confident Bruin should help his team over the final nine weeks of the season.

Lewiston native Tom Caron covers the Bruins for NESN.

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