Charlie Coyle aiming to seize top-six chance with Boston Bruins

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Hunter Bowman
September 9, 2023 (11:23 PM)

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Last season in the playoffs, Charlie Coyle had to step up for the Boston Bruins. He went from his usual third-line role to centering the top line alongside Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk.

This change happened when Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci were both sidelined due to injuries.

Now that both Bergeron and Krejci have retired, the Bruins have some important positions to fill in the center.

Coyle is one of the candidates to take on the 1C or 2C role in their absence.

«I want to keep improving my game every year,» Coyle said. «That's what you take the summer for to put the work in and become better. That's physically, mentally; everything. I want to be a better player and there's job opportunities open in my position that I play. So, it's a great challenge that I want to take advantage of.»

Coyle had been the third-line center for the Bruins for the past five seasons. However, his time playing alongside Marchand and DeBrusk, no matter how short it was, boosted his confidence.

«Taking on the other team's first, second lines and seeing how I fare and that's just a small sample size,» Coyle said. «It doesn't really say much and it's a new year. So, it's a great opportunity and I just want to make the most of it. I have to prove myself and that's something I really want to do. I got to prove it.»

Coyle also mentioned the absence of Nick Foligno and Taylor Hall, along with Bergeron and Krejci.

«We wish those guys were back, but in the end you get to turn the page and take advantage of what's in front of you with a lot of guys who can step up and play certain roles,» Coyle said. «You can't let the guys you lost, you can't solely replace them. It takes everyone and everyone's got to take a step here.
We can all bring a little more leadership from the leadership we lost and that goes with out play too. So, that's something I'm kind of striving for. We know what we lost but we know what we have in here too and I think the team's done a great job of putting together another team to make a difference out there and play winning hockey.»

As he enters his 12th NHL season, his sixth with Boston, Coyle has been averaging 48% from the faceoff circle.

While it's not quite at Bergeron's level (58.9%) or Krejci's (50.8%), Coyle had his best year when he averaged 52.6% over 82 games in the regular season.

Source: Nesn

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Do you think Coyle should seize the opportunity to fill the 1C or 2C role for the Bruins in the absence of Bergeron and Krejci?"
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