Charlie Coyle has settled into his role as one of the veteran leaders on the Boston Bruins. Originally brought in as a trade-deadline acquisition, he played a crucial part in Boston’s journey to the 2019 Stanley Cup final. The team came to just an hour away from the championship. Now, the Weymouth, Massachusetts native stands as one of only five players left from that Cup finalist roster. Currently, only Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Brandon Carlo, Charlie McAvoy, and Trent Frederic have been part of the black-and-gold lineup longer than the 32-year-old Coyle.
Charlie Coyle Says That Boston Bruins Ready to Demonstrate True Potential
The three-day journey through New England wrapped up on Sunday at Memorial Hall in Plymouth. Enthusiastic fans of all ages turned out in droves to show their unwavering support for the Bruins. This is a team that has consistently earned their loyalty over the past ten years by reaching the playoffs year after year. However, Charlie Coyle, who grew up in the region, knows better than most that just reaching the playoffs isn’t enough. This is a city where winning championships is not just a hope, but a standard expectation.
Growing up in Weymouth, Coyle is now embarking on his sixth full season with the Bruins, his hometown team, after joining them in a trade from the Minnesota Wild in 2019. Throughout this period, the Bruins have established themselves as one of the NHL’s top and most reliable teams during the regular season. In contrast, they have yet to capture the Stanley Cup since their last victory in 2011, now holding the record for Boston’s longest championship drought following the Celtics’ NBA Finals win in June.
The South Shore King 🤴 pic.twitter.com/qSc1IZ59ST
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) August 25, 2024
Coyle’s Evolution
Throughout his NHL journey, Coyle has experienced a significant transformation in his role since establishing himself with his local team. Initially recognized as a skilled third-line centre adept at controlling the game and excelling in matchups lower on the roster, the departures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci propelled Coyle into a prominent top-line position with the Boston Bruins prior to the 2023-24 season.
Coyle had an impressive season, showcasing his skills further up the depth chart by netting a career-best 25 goals and accumulating 60 points across 82 games. As a versatile asset in Jim Montgomery’s forward lineup, Coyle averaged 1:50 of power-play time and 2:28 of shorthanded minutes per game, leading all Bruins forwards in the latter category. Last winter, Coyle stepped up as a key player for Boston, but the seasoned centreman is eager to keep evolving his game and embrace any roles that Montgomery and the coaching staff assign to him in the future.
Coyle Looks to the Future
Charlie Coyle made a name for himself as a solid top-six player for Boston last winter, but the lack of a true top-line centre hindered the Bruins’ offensive output during the playoffs. Coyle and Pavel Zacha managed to score only two goals throughout Boston’s 13-game post-season journey against Toronto and Florida.
Bringing in Lindholm should help lighten the scoring load for Coyle. This would allow him to shift to the second centre position alongside Marchand, which could also see Zacha moving to the wing on the top line. With the addition of Zadorov and the grit that checking-line players like Max Jones and Mark Kastelic bring, Coyle believes the Bruins are well-prepared to handle tough matchups against physical teams like the Panthers.
A second line with Coyle and Marchand would still provide Boston with a dynamic and skilled forward lineup, particularly if complemented by a potential top line of Pastrnak, Lindholm, and Zacha. The identity of the player who will join Marchand and Coyle is still uncertain, with Frederic, Morgan Geekie, and even promising prospect Fabian Lysell presenting exciting possibilities for Montgomery as he works to piece together the offensive strategy.
"I want more responsibility on my shoulders. That's why you play, you want that."
Charlie Coyle on stepping up this season, and how new veteran players could shape the lineup. pic.twitter.com/tgQL2zHI66
— NESN (@NESN) August 25, 2024
Main photo: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
