Charlie Coyle: Unsung hero of the Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins have some big stars on their roster who shine year after year, noticeably the perfection line which consists of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak. However, the unsung hero of the team since his arrival to Beantown has arguably been Weymouth, MA native Charlie Coyle.

Coyle was acquired last year just days before the trade deadline in a deal that saw the Bruins send young Ryan Donato and a conditional fourth round draft pick in 2019 (via the New York Rangers) over to the Minnesota Wild. It’s easy to say that the Boston Bruins came out on top of that trade.

Last year, in twenty-one regular season games played with his new club, Coyle only put up two goals and just six points. But, it was in the playoffs where Coyle shined the most and came into his own with his new team.

In the team’s impressive Stanley Cup Finals run that came up one game short, Coyle was an absolute force and a big part of the team’s success in the post-season. In twenty-four games played, he put up nine goals and sixteen points and had a plus/minus rating of +8. For the most part, he centered a third line with Danton Heinen and Marcus Johansson as his wingers.

This year, Coyle picked up right where he left off. With the injury bug striking the B’s once again, the Massachusetts native has had to show off his versatility by stepping up in key moments.

Coyle played the wing at times alongside David Krejci on the team’s second line. He’s seen some time on the team’s power-play unit, which currently ranks third among the entire NHL. He currently has four goals and eleven points, which places him sixth among his teammates.

On the controversy, Ryan Donato had a more impressive start with his new club last year by potting four goals and 16 points in 22 games played. Although a much quicker start with his new team than Coyle, Donato has yet to establish himself and solidify a roster spot. He has seen some time in the minor leagues this year.

The big question of the year thus far for the Boston Bruins has been whether they could find secondary scoring to help out their top line. Charlie Coyle has certainly been a tremendous help since his arrival.

Although he may not always put up the numbers, he adds more size, skill and depth to his team. His vision for the game is next to none. With the superstars on the first line, it’s easy to overlook a player like Coyle and what he actually brings to the table each and every single game.