Blue Jackets’ Charlie Coyle plays 1,000th NHL game
Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle officially recorded his 1,000th game played at the NHL level on Thursday night as the Blue Jackets squared off against the Dallas Stars at Nationwide Arena.
Coyle, who was acquired by general manager Don Waddell in an off-season trade with the Colorado Avalanche, has been a revelation defensively for Columbus this season while putting up 30 points in 49 games prior to Thursday night’s contest.
all eyes on #3!
A native of East Waymouth, Massachusetts, Coyle was a first-round pick in the 2010 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks at No. 28 overall.
Coyle played his major-junior hockey with the St. John’s Sea Dogs of the QMJHL and his collegiate hockey at Boston University. During the 2011-12 campaign, he starred for Team USA’s squad at the U20 World Junior Championships, tallying four goals in his six games played.
Before he made his NHL debut, Coyle was a part of a blockbuster trade, as he was a key piece in the deal that sent Brent Burns from the Minnesota Wild to the Sharks.
Coyle spent seven seasons with Minnesota, where he played in 479 regular season games while putting up 242 points. At the 2019 NHL trade deadline, the Wild sent Coyle to his home state, as he joined the Boston Bruins for their run to the Stanley Cup Final that season. Coyle proved to be a clutch playoff performer for his hometown team, as he tallied 9 goals and 7 assists for 16 points in 24 games for the Bruins during that run.
Coyle was again acquired by a contending team at the trade deadline last season when the Bruins sent him to Colorado after a lengthy stay in Boston.
In his 999 regular season games, Coyle has racked up 199 goals and 316 assists for 515 points. He’s added 26 goals and 27 assists for 53 points in 126 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances. With his next goal, he will become the 15th player from the 2010 draft class to eclipse the 200-goal mark.