Player Discussion Charlie Coyle
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If the stat in another Bruins thread is true he has one 5\5 goal in the last 40+ games.
That's dreadful for a top 9 F your depending on. I noticed a decline in his play when he came back from last years All Star break and he ultimately stabilized his play but he looks worse this year. 50\50 chance this guy is regressing to a 30 point player.
PlayMakers
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It’s not true. He scored a 5on5 goal in April and March. And I think he scored 18 points after the All Star break.
This to me hits the nail on the head - Coyle is not a guy to elevate other players on his own. Put him with talent and he can do something, otherwise he's probably going to struggle. The Marchand-Coyle-Brazeau actually has some pretty solid underlying numbers, but they haven't been able to turn it into anything as yet. With one winger who's underdone and another who is doing a decent job but is not a top 6 talent (and that goes for Geekie too), it's going to be tough. Elias Lindholm is a more talented center but I think this is largely true of him as well - he can't grab a line by the scruff of the neck. Give him capable, in-form wingers he can gel with and he can do good things. If not, he tends to become ineffective.
I don't think Charlie's been outright terrible, just flat. Some poor decision-making but few outright horrendous plays. You say he's giving an effort and I agree, but what I'm not seeing is much in the way of intensity or giving that little bit extra. Coyle at his best has been described as a moose and with good reason, but we're not really seeing that. He's competing ok, but he's not tough enough on pucks or using his legs like he can be. He doesn't have great hands, but his talent is in his strength and Brick's word - sticktoitiveness' - and we're not getting enough of that. Like too many of the vets, he's doing the basics and taking too many easy options and hoping that's enough. Right now it's not.
Coyle in himself is no more a problem than anyone else but he's not part of the solution either. He's probably being asked to do too much but then he's being paid quite enough and has never hidden his ambition to be a legit top 6 C. So he has to own his role and responsibilities - which he does, to be fair - and find a way to be better. Like most of the rest.
DKH
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Back to dominating as the leader of a high end bottom 6
PlayMakers
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Blowfish
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Dennis Bonvie
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So 8 mil later , it is now decided what you already had was better, so you could have taken that 8 mil and shored up other weaknesses, such as a 1st line wing and a second line wing
PlayMakers
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I don't think there was a 1st line wing available for $8m, let alone both a 1st line wing and a 2nd line wing. Guentzel signed for $9m.
I also don't think "it's decided." That was just my opinion, and my hope is that Lindholm will still find his offensive game, like he did in Vancouver.
That said, 26 games in, he hasn't looked good and if I'm the coach I do what's best for the team right now. He can find his offense from the 3rd line.
PlayMakers
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Over the volcano
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But it's not like he's setting anyone up either. At even strength production he just passed Poitras and is still trailing Hampus Lindholm and Johnny Beecher.
800+ games into his career and his ceiling has always been a great 3rd line center. He hasn't been playing close to his best this year. Maybe when he gets his game back on track they can try to move him up, but for now he should focus on righting his own ship.
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PlayMakers
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He set up Frederic between the hash marks against MTL. He set up Marchand at the top of the crease against PIT. He made a spinning pass thru the crease to Frederic against the Islanders... I think he's making plays and playing well.
Bocephus86
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I should probably know this but I'm terrible at line combination memory - have we seen Pasta / Zacha / Lindholm together for any extended time? Pasta and Zacha have something, it just feels like Lindholm should fit in there with them. Or Pasta / Lindholm / Marchand? I'd hate to break up Pasta & Zacha though, Pasta brings out the best in Zacha and we're not deep enough to create another bottom 6 forward production-wise.
I like Zacha a lot more as a center. Probably the best playmaking center on the team and is currently playing good two way hockey.
IMO the key add would be a top 6 LW'er to add to the Zacha line. Geekie seems to be playing better the last few games but I think that's a spot they can improve on and then they can put Geekie down the lineup ( or part of a trade for said lw'er )
Vatrano -- Zacha -- Pasta
Marchand -- Lindholm -- Braz
Frederic -- Coyle -- Kastelic
Kopeke -- Beecher -- Geekie
When Coyle is on his game, he eats alot of minutes and increase Bruins time possession game. I do like him with Kastelic. 47 is a contagious style player.
Bocephus86
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This looks like 'it' to me, too. I was thinking having Lindholm at the wing, I believe he's played there before. I was going to say he could take faceoffs too, but I looked up the stats and Zacha is actually higher at 54% vs 52.9, but Elias has taken like twice as many. I was just spit-balling though trying to get Pasta with Elias, I think they could really connect given the chance, but Zacha needs to be there just for the chemistry.
Grasping at straws as they say.
Vatrano as an affordable expiring contract on a bad Ducks team is very intriguing too. They'd probably be interested in getting younger, and we obviously have a trading relationship with the Ducks.
Edit: If Poitras can regain form and come back, I'd love to see him at 2c and give Lindholm a shot at 1st line winger. Another potential option, but a lot of pressure on the young Sophomore in that scenario.
Edit 2: Thought I was in the Elias Lindholm thread, whoops! Thanks for engaging though, I'll stop threadjacking Coyle discussion
PlayMakers
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They started the season together and played about 8 games. It was not good.
Zacha-Lindholm-Pastrnak 41.3 xG%
Monty went to your second suggestion frequently late in games. It was better...
Marchand-Lindholm-Pastrnak 60.7%
The current version of the top line creates scoring chances better than any of the other options they've tried...
Geekie-Zacha-Pasta 64.3%
The current version of the second line...
Marchand-Lindholm-Brazeau 57.6%
And I'd like to know if this line's numbers are just the small sample size...
Marchand-Coyle-Brazeau 92.4%
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Bocephus86
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Over the volcano
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I'm not seeing the same set up game you are, I mean he's tied with Merkulov and Oesterle in assists. And he was their #2 center for the first 10-15 games.
Last couple games have been better but I don't see him as any solution to the top 6.
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