Coyle Makes Good Preseason Debut

(Photo: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Before Wednesday night’s final preseason game for the Bruins, Jack Studnicka had been slotting in on the second line between Taylor Hall and Craig Smith, pushing for a chance at that center spot as Charlie Coyle was recuperating. During the offseason Coyle underwent two surgeries on his left knee. The first was to repair an avulsion fracture in his kneecap while the second was to mend a small tear of the patellar tendon. It was these injuries that had diminished his abilities last season and the playoffs.

Coyle had just this final preseason game to shake off some of the rust and see how he was progressing before things get real on October 16 in the Boston Bruins‘ home opener against the Dallas Stars.

It was anticipated that, if healthy, Coyle would be playing center on that second line—the replacement for the departure of David Krejci—when the regular season began. There were a few who had some doubts that he could raise his game enough to be productive on that line.

With the Bruins and the Washington Capitals dressing what is largely expected to be close to their regular season rosters on Wednesday evening, it gave Coyle an opportunity to measure where he was in his recuperation and training. He made sure to punctuate his debut with a goal in the first period, some quality puck protection, good backchecking, solid hustle, and an assist in the second period. He finished the evening having put three shots on goal, registering one hit, and executing two takeaways.

“I thought Charlie was solid through the middle in terms of accelerating and kicking it out. So, playing north south hockey, I thought it was good for them [the second line]. They use their speed on the wings. Charlie was obviously able to keep up. Obviously his first game, so there was some shifts that he was more fatigued than the other guys just from lack of game action. But I thought that was good for him. He played the middle of the ice, got it outside speed and as a result there was some good attacks at the net,” said Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy.

Coyle did look strong on the ice. Watching him skate and work with Hall and Smith, he looked much better during his shifts than he had last season. He seemed more comfortable in the game, aware of where he was. He was also back to doing some of the things he did when the Bruins first acquired him from the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline in February 2019.

“It’s still a work in progress. You know, I’ve been trying to do everything I can to have the strength, have the power in my stride with the limited time I’ve had. So, there’s definitely a ways to go and I’m just going to keep working at it and get better and better,” Coyle said.

As the game continued, it was interesting observing his chemistry with his new linemates. Though it will take some time for them to have true chemistry, what they were accomplishing during the game, on such limited time together, hints to what a solid line they could become when that chemistry clicks.

For the Bruins, they now have ten days to settle on their roster and prepare for their first game of the 2021-22 season. For Coyle, it is a chance to look at what he did Wednesday night and use that as a benchmark on which to build. And for Studnicka, while Coyle is making his case for that second line center position, Studnicka still remains with the Boston club at this point.