Player Discussion Charlie Coyle

[PlayMakers]

Will he succeed or fail as the #1c?

What do you project his point totals to be, and why?

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[hrdpuk]

Maybe he's holding onto the puck because his linemates aren't moving into open positions and he doesn't want to make a risky pass. Maybe his 1C linemates will be better at it

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Maybe he's holding onto the puck because his linemates aren't moving into open positions and he doesn't want to make a risky pass. Maybe his 1C linemates will be better at it

Minnesota fans I'm sure said that for years too.

At some point we have to admit he is who he is.

Best we can hope for is a Haula like fit where the line works well enough in the regular season to get us into the playoffs.

But just like with Haula I feel Coyle would get caved in when line matched against an Aho type

 

[hrdpuk]

Minnesota fans I'm sure said that for years too.

At some point we have to admit he is who he is.

Best we can hope for is a Haula like fit where the line works well enough in the regular season to get us into the playoffs.

But just like with Haula I feel Coyle would get caved in when line matched against an Aho type

Time will tell.

Hopefully he gets enough time at 1C to know for sure .

 

[Kegs]

Maybe he's holding onto the puck because his linemates aren't moving into open positions and he doesn't want to make a risky pass. Maybe his 1C linemates will be better at it

They tried him with elite players. He just isn’t a playmaker. He is a great player. But he isn’t an elite set up man.

 

[Dr Quincy]

A guy can have a breakout year at 31... it's rare, but career years happen.

But a guy can't become a completely different kind of player at 31. If you don't have offensive creativity, vision and handle at 25.. it's not coming.

That doesn't mean he'll be a failure this year, in fact I think he could have his best year ever.

It just means he's going to need a playmaking winger on his line.

 

[mjhfb]

I like him and wish him well, but calling him a first line center can be relative. Like calling the person who graduated from Harvard Medical 167th out of a class of 167 a Harvard Doctor. They are, but...

 

[shelbysdad]

Our ideal situation in my mind.....
Zacha 1
Merkulov proves he is ready to be 2
Coyle back to 3 to do what he is best suited to do

 

[neelynugs]

as clubber lang said, "pain"

 

[slim399]

In Coyle’s defense two years ago he started on the second line with Hall and Smith. The line put up decent points but didn’t seem to have a lot of chemistry. They then put together a line of Hall-Haula-Pastrnak that took off. Pasta instead of Smith makes a big difference in the success of that line.

Do I think Coyle is best served on the third line? Of course. I do think he will be able to hold his own playing with two good wings in Marchand and Debrusk though and that line will have a lot better chemistry.

 

[UncleRico]

Maybe he's holding onto the puck because his linemates aren't moving into open positions and he doesn't want to make a risky pass. Maybe his 1C linemates will be better at it

Well he had Debrusk on his 3rd line wing for a prolonged period of time and now he’s going to have him again on his wing on the first line. So unless they start playing better together, they’ll be very dependent on Marchand to push that line.

 

[UConn126]

I voted 3C by Christmas, but I could see him being serviceable. Whichever line he's one he won't be driving the offense.

 

[Over the volcano]

Minnesota fans I'm sure said that for years too.

At some point we have to admit he is who he is.

Best we can hope for is a Haula like fit where the line works well enough in the regular season to get us into the playoffs.

But just like with Haula I feel Coyle would get caved in when line matched against an Aho type

As good fits go I wouldn't break up him and Frederic.

Would also rather see him at C2 and instead of some JVR nonsense they could have a top 6 of

DeBrusk Zacha Pastrnak - built around speed and playmaking, and DeBrusk can go back to his natural left wing spot.

and

Marchand Coyle Frederic - built around possession and 2 way play. They could also be a royal pain in the ass to play against.

 

[hrdpuk]

I would like to see whoever they chose for 1C & 2C stays long enough to gain chemistry and form a cohesive line.

 

[BMC]

I would like to see whoever they chose for 1C & 2C stays long enough to gain chemistry and form a cohesive line.

This. I know Monty isn’t afraid to switch things up but sometimes he’s a little quick on trigger

 

[KrejciMVP]

have to hope a prospect comes out of nowhere in breaks through. Coyle and Zacha arent top Centers, both are 3rd line centers

 

[Face Of Bear]

Do the Bruins have the worst C depth in the NHL right now?

 

[PlayMakers]

He looks like a 3rd line center to me. His puck possession is the most overrated comment on these boards and I believe it comes from Jack Edward’s signing his praises whenever he holds on to the puck.

The problem is he has no vision and holds and holds the puck for way too long and ultimately ends up turning it over the majority of the time. Doyle’s puck possession is great on the PK and eat some minutes, but when you need to score goals it’s a detriment to the team.

It’s overrated regardless… if he was playing keep away he’d be a generational talent. Unfortunately he holds onto the puck way too long and plays dissipate whiles he’s got his head down trying to hold onto the puck and he eventually ends up turning it over.

I disagree. Coyle turns the puck over less than Krejci and only slightly more than Bergeron, which is to say not much at all. He was 10th on the team in turnovers per/60. He averages 35 turnovers per 82 games... compare that to Pasta who had 105 turnovers last season.

And what you see as "holding the puck too long" I see as poise. I know the kinds of plays your talking about. I remember a play in the playoffs where he was in a 3on2 and DeBrusk drove to the net on one side and Marchand drove on the other and for asecond it looked like there might be a lane to Marchand but the D read it and stayed glued to Marchand, which opened up a lane for Coyle to get a point blank shot from the low slot. He does that a lot, look off the obvious pass and then step into the lane the D vacates for a scoring chance. IMO, those ‘hold it for an extra second‘ plays usually work out in his favor.

 

[PlayMakers]

Coyle has a lot of tools but he definitely lacks a goal scorers finish. He is a big strong defensive player though. I don’t see why he can’t be a second line shut down centre.

I agree with that. Not a high end finisher, or a volume shooter. Maybe he can get more pucks on net this season.

 

[PlayMakers]

They tried him with elite players. He just isn’t a playmaker. He is a great player. But he isn’t an elite set up man.

No they didn't.

Coyle has never had a chance to play with two top6 wingers. And he's never had significant PP time.

The truth is that, at even strength Coyle already scores like a low end top6 center. He put up about the same amount of ES points as a lot of guys we'd consider first line centers, guys like Bergeron, Horvat, Kadri, JT Miller, Kuznetsov, Thomas, Hertl, Tavares, Karlsson, Bennett... (all around 37-43 ES points, Coyle had 40).

I'm hoping that if he can get either PP time or the opportunity to play with two actual top6 forwards this year, his points will take a jump and be more in line with other good two-way 2nd line C's.

 

[UncleRico]

No they didn't.

Coyle has never had a chance to play with two top6 wingers. And he's never had significant PP time.

The truth is that, at even strength Coyle already scores like a low end top6 center. He put up about the same amount of ES points as a lot of guys we'd consider first line centers, guys like Bergeron, Horvat, Kadri, JT Miller, Kuznetsov, Thomas, Hertl, Tavares, Karlsson, Bennett... (all around 37-43 ES points, Coyle had 40).

I'm hoping that if he can get either PP time or the opportunity to play with two actual top6 forwards this year, his points will take a jump and be more in line with other good two-way 2nd line C's.

I have no doubt his points will increase in a bigger role, but the question is will he be sufficient in that role.

He got about a half season of top 6 play two years ago when krejci was gone and he was a minus player in the top 6 role until Cassidy switched it up and put haula on the 2nd line.

His point production was up, but his line was often outmatched. Could be the same scenario next year.

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

Do the Bruins have the worst C depth in the NHL right now?

no. Philly, Ottawa, Nashville & Minnesota all worse off the top of my head. Montreal in the conversation too.

Coyle & Zacha have their limitations and Coyle especially is best fit as a 3C but let's not pretend both guys aren't competent reliable centers. Philly & Ottawa way worse by comparison. Nashville replaces Duchene with ROR who has to go back to carrying a mediocre team like he was failing to do in St Louis last year.

Bruins need another top 6 C but they have time. Advantage they have over other teams lacking C depth is 2 elite wingers, 2 #1 goalies and the best D in the NHL.

 

[Beesfan]

No they didn't.

Coyle has never had a chance to play with two top6 wingers. And he's never had significant PP time.

The truth is that, at even strength Coyle already scores like a low end top6 center. He put up about the same amount of ES points as a lot of guys we'd consider first line centers, guys like Bergeron, Horvat, Kadri, JT Miller, Kuznetsov, Thomas, Hertl, Tavares, Karlsson, Bennett... (all around 37-43 ES points, Coyle had 40).

I'm hoping that if he can get either PP time or the opportunity to play with two actual top6 forwards this year, his points will take a jump and be more in line with other good two-way 2nd line C's.

I have distinct recollections of Coyle slotting in for Bergeron or the 2C during injury stretches. Also, didn't they start him at 2C out of training camp in 2021-2022?

It has never to this point worked out terribly well. That's not to say it is impossible, it just seems like wishful thinking.

 

[PlayMakers]

I have distinct recollections of Coyle slotting in for Bergeron or the 2C during injury stretches. Also, didn't they start him at 2C out of training camp in 2021-2022?

It has never to this point worked out terribly well. That's not to say it is impossible, it just seems like wishful thinking.

He has stepped in for spot duty, like last year’s playoffs. He has not had an extended run with two top six wingers including 2021-22 where he played with Hall and Craig Smith.

 

[Kegs]

No they didn't.

Coyle has never had a chance to play with two top6 wingers. And he's never had significant PP time.

The truth is that, at even strength Coyle already scores like a low end top6 center. He put up about the same amount of ES points as a lot of guys we'd consider first line centers, guys like Bergeron, Horvat, Kadri, JT Miller, Kuznetsov, Thomas, Hertl, Tavares, Karlsson, Bennett... (all around 37-43 ES points, Coyle had 40).

I'm hoping that if he can get either PP time or the opportunity to play with two actual top6 forwards this year, his points will take a jump and be more in line with other good two-way 2nd line C's.

They used him on the second line a couple seasons ago. Maybe I’m using “elite” too loose. He played with Taylor hall though. Taylor hall is a really good nhl player. A top 6 winger with great vision. I don’t think he will ever be an offensive monster. He is what he is. And I’m happy with it.

A second line that’s an elite defensive line would be fantastic. This team has a lot of other weapons. I’m not worried about coyle on the second line.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Coyle is not all of a sudden going to become an elite center. No doubt he can sub in for a period of time but if this is their plan to have him as that number one guy we better dig in for a long season

Coyle needs to be where he belongs on third line by xmas if this season is going to matter much.