Coyle is coming off an impressive first season in Columbus and has been rewarded with a six-year contract extension. The 33-year-old forward scored 58 points (20G / 38A) in 82 games this season, just two points short of the career-high 60-point campaign he had two years ago.
After six and a half years in Boston, Coyle was traded to the Avalanche at the deadline last year, and only scored two goals with 11 assists (13 points) in 19 games. WIth the Avalanche pressed up against the salary cap, a third-line centre making $5.25M was a luxury they could not afford. With Columbus, Coyle will settle in behind Sean Monahan and Adam Fantilli on the depth chart and could make Cole Sillinger expendable in a trade this summer.
Coyle will likely be Colorado's third-line center, a role more suited for the 33-year-old forward than he was deployed this season as a Boston Bruin. The 13-year veteran forward averaged 17:38 time-on-ice and scored 22 points (15G / 7A) in 64 games with Boston this season.
The Bruins are navigating a handful of injuries at the moment but will fortunately have Coyle available for Tuesday's game against the Lightning. The 32-year-old Coyle is averaging 17:20 time-on-ice and has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 45 games this season.
The Bruins are navigating a handful of injuries at the moment and could also be without Coyle on Tuesday night due to an illness. The 32-year-old Coyle is averaging 17:20 time-on-ice and has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 45 games this season.
Coyle's status for Monday's tilt against the St. Louis Blue was up in the air as he is battling an illness. After a tremendous run with 24 points (8G / 16A) in 19 games, Coyle has fallen off significantly, with only seven points (3G / 4A) in his last 15.
Coyle's status for Monday's tilt against the St. Louis Blue is up in the air as he is battling an illness. After a tremendous run with 24 points (8G / 16A) in 19 games, Coyle has fallen off significantly, with only seven points (3G / 4A) in his last 15.
Sunday was a mostly good day for the Bruins, activating Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Taylor Hall, Craig Smith, Jeremy Swayman, Trent Frederic, Curtis Lazar and Anton Blidh from protocol but added Coyle--who joins Brandon Carlo and Oskar Steen, who remain on the list. Coyle will likely be out until at least the middle of next week.
Coyle will be ready for the playoffs but is expected to miss the final two games of the season. With Coyle out, the Bruins will likely get a look at Ondrej Kase, who has missed almost all of 2021.
Coyle is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, so look for Karson Kuhlman to replace him in the lineup. Coyle should be considered questionable for Saturday's rematch vs. the Rangers.
Coyle was banged up on Saturday and missed Sunday's practice but head coach Bruce Cassidy expects him to be available for Monday's rematch. Coyle has two goals and two assists (four points) in eight games this season.
Coyle, 26, was born 45 minutes outside of Boston and attended Boston University for two seasons before playing one season in the QMJHL. Coyle was a first-round pick (No.28 overall) in 2010 and has registered 242 points (91G / 151A) in 479 career NHL games since then. Coyle has excellent hands for a player who is 6-foot-3, 221 lbs. but has settled in as more of a playmaker in the NHL, posting a career-high of just 21 goals back in 2016. This season, Coyle has 10 goals and 18 assists (28 points) in 60 games and should be a nice addition to the Wild’s middle-6. Coyle is capable of playing both centre and wing.
Coyle underwent surgery to repair a tear in each of wrists after they bothered him in the second half of the season. Coyle is expected to need one month to be fully healed, so he’ll be more than ready-to-go for next year’s training camp.
The original timetable on Coyle’s expected return was 6-to-8 weeks and we are currently at the four-week mark. It appears that Coyle is right on schedule but he still has at least a few weeks before he actually gets into the Wild lineup. q
