Charlie Coyle is key to unlocking Boston Bruins’ full potential

When the 2021-2022 Boston Bruins season was nearing its start, and the B’s had yet to make a move for a second line center, I was nervous that they were going to stand pat at that spot and let Charlie Coyle take it up.

I thought going out and getting a legitimate second line center should have been the No. 1 priority for Don Sweeney, and he instead opted to sign three wingers. While Coyle has second line upside, he certainly didn’t show it at any point last season, and coming into this season, there were (and still very much are) high expectations for Coyle to fill the big hole left behind by David Krejci.

So far, Charlie Coyle has fulfilled his duties centering the second line through seven games. While it’s a very small sample size, Coyle’s play bodes well for the Bruins moving forward. The second line is a key component to any winning hockey team, especially to a team that has been chronically plagued by a disappearing second line for a long time.

While much of the weight and pressure to perform in this elevated position falls on Coyle’s shoulders, the Bruins expectation for him is to provide a connection with Taylor Hall. As we saw last year in Buffalo, Hall was surrounded by teammates he didn’t trust, and had no connection with, shown by his lack of production. His talents really come to the forefront when he has a companion on his line who is capable of helping him unlock his MVP caliber talents. We saw that when he was matched with Krejci last year.

The Bruins need Charlie Coyle’s production to come in the form of elevating Taylor Hall’s game. Hall is a top line talent, but obviously with the top line the Bruins have, there isn’t a spot for him there. Having him as a complimentary scorer behind what is already one of the best lines in the NHL is an absolute steal for the Bruins to have, but his play is ultra reliant on Coyle providing true second line center qualities and playmaking skills that will keep Hall producing at an elite clip.

With a solidified top six with ideally Craig Smith playing the other wing to Coyle and Hall, the Bruins should have a legitimate top-five offense in the NHL, especially if role guys in the bottom-six provide decent depth scoring, like Jake DeBrusk who has come out the gate with a revitalized energy to him.

While I may have criticized Don Sweeney for bringing in three bottom-six wingers instead of a second line center, if Coyle can keep up his strong start, the Bruins could very well have four legitimate lines, something we haven’t always been able to say about the B’s.