Wild trade Charlie Coyle to Bruins
The Boston Bruins have started into the talent acquisition phase of the 2018-19 season, landing Charlie Coyle in a trade with the Minnesota Wild.
Neither team has confirmed the transaction, but it’s believed that Ryan Donato and a fifth-round draft pick in 2019 is headed back to Minnesota in exchange for the middle-six centre.
Though Coyle has taken steps back from a production standpoint over the last two seasons, and has never scored at an elite middle-six level, his acquisition does undeniably bolster Boston’s center depth. Supporting Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci from the third-line pivot position, the Bruins are better equipped now on paper to match the talent-rich Lightning and Maple Leafs down the middle of the ice.
In the three-hole, and with the ability to move around the lineup, Coyle should see some more favourable matchups in Boston and will be surrounded with more talent — which could result in a scoring uptick. He’s currently stuck on 10 goals and 28 points on the season, but it is worth noting that 24 of those points have come at even strength.
Meanwhile, Donato was a very exciting prospect for Boston looking back one year ago. Chosen in the second round in 2014, and after four years at Harvard, Donato joined the club for the postseason and stretch run while fresh off finishing with a co-share of the goal-scoring lead from the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang.
Unable to take that next step this season, Donato has been limited to 34 starts at the NHL level, and has chipped in with just six goals. Dealing Donato for Coyle shows how fast his stock has fallen with the Bruins.
Coyle has one year remaining beyond this season on his current deal, which is valued at $3.2 million annually.
It’s believed that the Bruins remain interested in adding a scoring winger to the second line but Coyle takes up most of the near-$4 million in cap space that was at their disposal, so it will require a degree of creativity.
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