REPORT: Wild Trade Coyle to Bruins
The Minnesota Wild have reportedly traded forward Charlie Coyle to the Boston Bruins.
The trade has not been made official but according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, 22-year-old Ryan Donato and a fifth-round pick may be heading back to the Wild.
Not official but hearing the trade is Coyle to BOS in exchange for Ryan Donato and a fifth-round pick. Details to come.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 20, 2019
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, which is why he was likely a coveted target of the Bruins. He figures to get an opportunity with second-line centre David Krejci, especially while David Pastrnak is sidelined and the Bruins are thin on the right-side.
Coyle has one more year on his deal that carries a $3.2M AAV cap-hit, so he isn’t a straight rental for the Bruins. The 26-year-old, who was seventh among Wild forwards in terms of Scoring Chances For (24.9) and Against (21.9) per/60 this season, ranks as the No.107 right winger according to Corsica Player Ratings.
As for Donato, he was a fairly highly touted prospect coming out of Harvard University. The 22-year-old was picked in the second-round (No.56 overall) in 2014 and dazzled Bruins fans in a 12-game stint after turning pro late last season. However, Donato struggled to find his way this season, scoring just six goals with three assists (nine points) in 34 games. Since then he has been in the AHL, where he has 12 points (7G / 5A) in 18 games with Providence but could replace Coyle on the big-club as the Wild continue to push for a playoff berth.
Not sure why, but chance #mnwild #bruins trade won't be officially announced til around 10 p.m.
Maybe because of the Wild's flight delay
Sounds like Coyle for Donato and a fifth pick
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 20, 2019
It sounds like this deal won’t be made official until later tonight, around 10 pm ET.