Charlie Coyle on Bruins’ intention to keep him at center: ‘It’s really big for my game’

Between the final six weeks of the regular season and the subsequent three months of playoff action, Charlie Coyle isn’t exactly viewed as one of the new guys in the Bruins' locker room anymore.

And yet, despite logging 45 total games last season in Boston, the 27-year-old forward does find himself in a bit of uncharted territory this month — taking part in his first training camp with his hometown club.

Aside from some slight variances when it comes to off-ice conditioning and the practices and drills that are tailored to each coaching staff, most NHL camps follow a similar routine, from the first days of conditioning work to the gradual trimming of the roster in anticipation of early October hockey. 

Coyle has gone through the preseason gamut eight times since turning pro in 2012, but this specific three-week stretch in September is anything but routine for the Weymouth native.



One thing that Coyle will not have to fret about in his first full season in Boston? His role in Bruce Cassidy’s lineup.

He might provide plenty of value as a forward that can both log minutes at his preferred spot at center or handle top-six duties on the wing, but barring any drastic changes over the next two weeks, Cassidy noted Wednesday that Coyle is just about locked in as the club’s third-line pivot. 

“I just think it’s important, personally, to be strong down the middle of the ice. Whether Charlie moves to the right wing, because (Par) Lindholm can play, (Sean) Kuraly can move up," Cassidy said.

“But still, to have four centermen that you know that you can rely on and trust that can play a 200-foot game. … To have Charlie in there now, and our intention is to keep him there, unless the team would be better served with him up on the wing. But right now, we like the way we played last year and hopefully with the team this year.”

Coyle certainly doesn’t have any qualms about driving a bottom-six line, even if a spot to David Krejci’s right might be tempting to many a skater looking for surge in scoring production. 

“It’s really big. It’s really big for my game,” Coyle told BostonSportsJournal.com of knowing he’ll remain at center this season. “I’ve always kind of been switched around a lot. It’s just, you can’t — there’s no consistency there. Sometimes, your game falls out of consistency. And it’s not to throw it completely on that, but it definitely plays a factor, I think. 

“I think you started to see last year, in the playoffs, I had my set position — I know where I am, night in and night out. I just prepared for that and you know, for the most part, who your linemates are and that helps a lot, too. I think it really helped all of us when you have that. You just know what to expect. You’re not going in, unsure of this, unsure of that. You’re prepped for it, you get your mind right and you go and you play.”

When Coyle was at his best with Boston last season, he was entrenched as Boston’s 3C during the postseason, slotted next to both Danton Heinen and Marcus Johansson. After tallying two goals and six total points over 21 games in the regular season, Coyle exploded in the playoffs — tallying nine goals and 16 points, while his line combined for 7 5v5 goals. 

Settling into a groove at center is a far cry from what Coyle experienced during the regular season, as he skated on 10 different line combinations that logged at least five minutes of 5v5 TOI together over the span of those 21 games. Even when Coyle was slotted up with Krejci (a total of 77:07 of 5v5 TOI), that line was outscored by the opposition, 3-2, although 46-13 did hold a 63.08% shot share.  

While his role as Boston’s third-line pivot is all but secured once the regular season commences on October 3, the supporting cast around him is anything but a lock when it comes to who rounds out what should be a critical forward trio. 

Rather than getting thrown into the fire as was the case last February, Coyle is relishing the window that training camp can give teammates when it comes to building some chemistry.

“I think getting traded here after the year (started) — I’m obviously happy that it happened, but you’d obviously rather start fresh and start right from the beginning with the rest of the team, get to know everyone and go through it together,” Coyle said. “That’s the most ideal way to do it.

“I was really looking forward to doing that this year, and now that we’re here, it’s a lot of fun. It’s really easy just to know guys a little more. Even last year, kind of a short window. Even guys who I haven’t played with or haven’t met yet, just getting to know them, like a guy like (Anders Bjork)? That’s huge. It helps a lot. I think we can start to see it out there.”

On Thursday, Coyle will hit the ice for Boston’s second preseason game against the Flyers, with the center expected to skate alongside a familiar face in Heinen. His left wing in Bjork, however, has not logged a single minute of game action with Coyle — as Bjork was already on the shelf due to shoulder surgery by the time Coyle was traded to Boston. 

The 10-13-43 line has been a familiar sight through the first week of practice, and could be Cassidy’s first crack at trying to roll out a stable group in the bottom-six this season.

So far, the results have been encouraging for Coyle and Co. But the rest test will begin at 7 p.m. down in Philadelphia. 

“He can play. He’s skilled, he’s a great skater, he’s smooth,” Coyle said of Bjork. “He’s smart. We’re certainly getting to know each other. We’ve had a lot of reps in practice and try to get to know him off the ice, which helps. I think he compliments us really well. He’s got the speed. I like playing with guys with speed like that. I think him and Heino are similar in ways, but also different in a few others. But I think we mesh well. We’re looking forward tonight to see how we do against another opponent.” 

OTHER NOTES

Here is the lineup that the Bruins are set to roll out for tonight’s preseason matchup in Philly.

Bjork – Coyle – Heinen
Blidh – Kuraly – Backes
DeBrusk – Studnicka – Kuhlman
Cehlarik – Gaunce – Lantosi
Lauzon – Clifton

Vaakanainen – Petrovic
Zech – Didier
Zboril

Halak
Lagace

Here is the Group B lineup that will not take part in Thursday’s matchup, but will skate first on Friday at Warrior Ice Arena. 

Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Carey – Krejci – Ritchie
Nordstrom – Lindholm – Wagner
Fitzgerald – Frederic - Steen
Lauko – Shen – Asselin

Chara – McAvoy
Krug – Carlo
Sherman – Grzelcyk
Breen – Kampfer

Rask

Keyser
Vladar

Patrice Bergeron, who skated with David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand once again on Thursday, said that he will have an off day on Friday, but added that he feels “very confident” that he will get the green light when it comes to playing in Boston’s season opener on October 3rd.

“I think it’s going to be something that is going to be behind me, hopefully, sooner rather than later,” Bergeron said of his lingering groin injury. “I’m hopefully not going to have to deal with this all year. That’s the goal.”