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Boston Bruins: Top 3 players that can replace David Pastrnak on the first line until he returns

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 19: Ondrej Kase #28 of the Boston Bruins carries the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 19, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 19: Ondrej Kase #28 of the Boston Bruins carries the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 19, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 29: Charlie Coyle #13 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on February 29, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. The Bruins shut-out the Islanders 4-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 29: Charlie Coyle #13 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on February 29, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. The Bruins shut-out the Islanders 4-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

With Boston Bruins’ top right wing David Pastrnak expected to be out of action until mid-February, who can replace him?

Before I begin, I want to say that the Boston Bruins just will not replace the elite level of hockey that David Pastrnak brings to the rink night in and night out. However, they still need to find a replacement to fill the hole that is their first line right wing until Pasta returns.

When Pastrnak first got his hip and labral surgeries, it was said that he would miss around five months. This put him at a mid-February return date, and so far, this is still the case.

So, with a Jan. 13 season start date for 2021, the B’s will have to find someone to slot into the first line right wing role until Pasta returns.

Just exactly who within Boston’s organization could the B’s choose?

3. Charlie Coyle could play the Boston Bruins’ first line right wing.

Before I get started with Charlie Coyle, I’ll admit I’m a firm believer in wings and defensemen playing on their strong side. This means that right wings and right defensemen must be righties and left wings and left defensemen must be lefties.

With this said, I will not suggest moving left wing Jake DeBrusk to first line right wing as he is a lefty. The same goes for any other forward that is a lefty.

As of right now, Coyle is expected to slot in as the Bruins’ third line center once again. But maybe for the month that Pasta is sidelined, he could play first line right wing.

Coyle has scored 20 goals in a season once before and has even scored 55+ points in a season previously in his career. However, this issue is that these accomplishments happened four and five years ago and Coyle hasn’t broken 40 points in a season since.

But he has shown he can score with 16 goals in 70 games this past season for the Bruins. These 16 goals include one powerplay. two shorthanded, and three game-winners.

So, Coyle does have the talent level and ability to keep up with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron on the Black and Gold’s first line.

Coyle’s defensive style of hockey would fit in well on the first line, as well. This would allow Bergeron to play a more offensive game, basically replacing Pasta.

However, there are two issues with this solution. First, Coyle has never played first line minutes in his career. He has played top-six minutes, so I’m sure he could handle an extra minute or two a night. Second, moving Coyle to first line right wing creates another hole at third line center.

But, the B’s have great center depth in prospects currently in the AHL like Jack Studnicka and bottom-six centers that are currently in the NHL like Sean Kuraly. So, I think Boston would easily be able to fill this hole for a month.

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