Charlie Coyle lined up as a right wing on the second line for the Boston Bruins. Is he the best fit?
The Boston Bruins still have a gaping hole at the second-line right wing spot next to David Krejci. Coach Bruce Cassidy tried to plug the hole with a few different options so far this year, but nobody stuck. The most recent choice at right wing was Charlie Coyle.
Coyle suited up for all 34 games this year, mostly at center. He typically plays as the third-line center when everybody’s healthy, but he bumped up to the second line in Patrice Bergeron‘s absence.
At times, however, Cassidy moved Coyle to the second-line right wing position. The idea here is simple: the Bruins need someone to the right of Krejci, and Coyle is the best option on the roster.
Coyle offers the size and strength Brett Ritchie, but he’s a much better skater. He won’t slow down his linemates. Also, Coye’s more reliable than a young player like Karson Kuhlman.
As such, put Coyle with Krejci and Jake DeBrusk, and Boston has its best second-line at this point in time. That trio can provide some secondary scoring underneath the first line.
Although Coyle at right wing looks great on the surface, is he a long-term solution in that role? Ideally not.
Why Charlie Coyle needs to be the third line center for the Boston Bruins
When Cassidy moves Coyle to the right wing, it opens up a spot at third-line center. Right now, there’s nobody else on the roster who’s a capable in that spot. Cassidy essentially creates a new hole to fill that first one.
Sean Kuraly played third-line center against Florida when Coyle moved to the right wing. Kuraly’s a solid player for Boston, but he doesn’t provide enough offense to be on the third line. He only has three goals and eight assists this year.
The Bruins could call up a young player like Jack Studnicka from Providence and play him on the third line. He would provide more offense, but he’s not ready for full-time duty yet. The Bruins don’t want to stunt his development.
Coyle needs to anchor Boston’s third line. He’s a matchup nightmare for other third liners, so he adds a different dimension to the lineup. Not many teams can handle Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Coyle down the middle.
For now, Coyle’s a temporary solution at right wing. He can help Cassidy bridge the gap until GM Don Sweeney acquires some outside help.
However, if the Bruins want to go the distance this year, Coyle must center the third line. That’s where he makes the biggest difference.