Charlie Coyle

Coyle is coming fresh off a 51-game campaign in which he posted the lowest goal (six) and point (16) totals of his career since becoming a full-time NHL regular back in 2013-14. His 1:19 of ice time per game with the man advantage was his lowest mark since 2014-15. Those are ugly numbers for a player with five more years on his contract at a whopping $5.25 million cap hit, but there's actually reason for optimism moving forward. Long time Bruin David Krejci decided to return to his native Czech Republic to finish his pro career, leaving Coyle as the ideal candidate to move up to the Bruins' second line alongside Taylor Hall and Craig Smith. It should be a formidable unit and one that helps lead to a significant increase in Coyle's scoring totals, making him a buy-low candidate in the latter rounds of fantasy drafts.

Coyle was solid during his first full season with the Bruins in 2019-20, notching 16 goals and 37 points while averaging 16:47 of ice time in 70 appearances. Unfortunately, those totals likely reflect his ceiling, as he'll be playing behind Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci as the Bruins' third-line center in 2020-21. He'll still see time on Boston's second power-play unit, but that won't be enough to redeem his fantasy value. Coyle will be a late-round pick in most formats.

Coyle joined the Bruins via the Wild in advance of the 2018-19 trade deadline in exchange for promising young sniper Ryan Donato and a fifth-round draft pick. The trade didn't provide great dividends out of the gate though, as Coyle was limited to just two goals and six points in 21 regular-season games with Boston. Overall, the 27-year-old logged 12 goals and 34 points in 81 regular-season contests. Once the postseason got rolling, however, Coyle turned into a different player, using his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame to drive possession while parlaying his underrated puck skills and cycling ability into nine goals and 16 points in 24 playoff tilts. It was an effort that cemented Coyle's spot in the Bruins' top nine heading into the 2019-20 campaign, and it's conceivable that he could play himself into some top-six work as well.

Injuries were the story of Coyle's season. A broken leg suffered when he blocked a shot in mid-October cost him 16 games, and while he looked more like his usual self after his return, scoring 15 points in the next 22 games, by January issues with both wrists had rendered him a non-factor down the stretch and into the playoffs. Coyle underwent offseason surgery on his wrist tendons and is expected to be 100 percent by training camp, but a slow start in 2018-19 might bump him out of the top six entirely. The 26-year-old could be effective on a checking line, as his offensive game is based more on using his size to bully his way into open ice rather than skating past people, but he'll need to prove himself before he should be considered a serious threat for 20 goals or 50 points again.

The good news for Coyle is that he’s improved his point totals in each of his four full seasons in the league (30, 35, 42, 56), and the great news is that the 2010 first-round pick still has a lot more room to grow. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Coyle combined with Eric Staal to form a towering offensive duo in a conference that tends to play a more physical game, and the two finished fifth and second in team scoring, respectively. Though Coyle was drafted as a center, he’s looked very comfortable on the right wing, quietly becoming one of the league’s most impressive big-bodied playmakers. He fell back a bit to 18 goals despite his career-high point total last season, but Coyle is a strong candidate to return to his 20-goal ways and clear 60 points with a first-line role on tap.

Coyle’s steadily improved year after year in the NHL, and as he grows into his role as the Wild’s top-line right wing of the future, the 2010 first-round pick should be a legitimate threat to hit 50 points for the first time in his age-24 season. His success during a disappointing 2015-16 for the Wild offers plenty of positive indicators for how he’ll do when the team sees better days, as he set new career marks with 21 goals and 42 points last year while playing with the kind of physical edge any team’s fans can appreciate, racking up 131 hits. A strong, hard-working winger who’s equally useful on both ends of the ice, Coyle also has the touch to rack up both goals and assists, and big minutes alongside Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise will offer no shortage of opportunities for him to do just that.

Coyle continued his development in 2014-15, playing in all 82 games, setting career bests in assists (24) and points (35), and finishing with a plus-13 rating. Despite those achievements, Coyle found difficulty earning increased responsibilities, as he noticed a huge dip in ice time from the season before, dropping from an average of 17:05 to 14:33. Coyle is stuck playing in the bottom six thanks to Mikko Koivu and Mikael Granlund centering the top two lines, but that's not to say he's been skating next to scrubs on the third line, either. There's a good chance that at some point, Coyle will see extended action alongside Thomas Vanek and Jason Zucker, both of whom would give the center two high-quality snipers to set up. At just 23 years old, the best is probably still to come for the Boston University product, even if the opportunity isn't necessarily there to begin the upcoming season.

The 22-year-old winger continued to grow last season, notching 12 goals and 18 assists over 70 games. The turning point for Coyle appeared to be his closed-door meeting in the second half with coach Mike Yeo, who requested that the forward rediscover his physical game. Coyle did exactly that, and unsurprisingly, his late-season and his postseason performances -- prior to playing with two separated shoulders -- was outstanding. He's probably played himself into Minnesota's top-six forwards, a group that is going to be even stronger in 2014-15. But his role in that group could still be at risk because of his skills on both ends of the ice, unlike the defensively-challenged Nino Niederreiter, who struggles in his own zone. As a result, it could mean that Coyle is the one who might be trusted on the third line. If Coyle is able to remain in a top-six role for the bulk of the season, a true breakout year could be on the horizon. At this point, it’s most prudent to watch camp closely and see how the lines might shake out. Otherwise, stick Coyle at the end of the bench for your fantasy squad and hope for fireworks.

Coyle had a strong rookie debut with 14 points in 37 games after the Wild acquired him in a pre-season trade with the Sharks. He's a hard-working forward that can deliver scoring and dish the puck when he chooses. He could make a big improvement in his second season as he may cement his role on a top line.

We can't wait for the day when Minny's top line includes Zach Parise on the left side, Mikael Granlund in the middle and Mr. Charlie Coyle on the right. Coyle has already dominated the QMJHL and has everything he needs -- size, skill, speed, strength, smarts and sandpaper -- to do the same in the NHL. He's a natural center, but we get shivers when we think of him on the wing. Think David Backes and then add a bit more offense. Yes, he's that good. He won't have a full-time gig with the Wild until next season. But he needs to be stashed in keeper formats -- act now or forever hold your peace.

Coyle, originally drafted by the Sharks in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry draft, was traded to the Wild this past offseason as part of the Devin Setoguchi/Brent Burns swap. Last season, the power forward brought his offensive touch to Boston College, where he posted 26 points (7 G, 19 A) as a freshman. Coyle is a relatively unfamiliar name in fantasy circles, but that figures to change as the mega prospect should have little trouble working his way up the ranks.

The Sharks circled a lamp-lighting power forward with the 28th pick of the 2010 Entry Draft, nabbing Coyle at that spot. Just as his famed uncle Tony Amonte once did, Coyle will play for Boston University in 2010-11. He'll be fun to watch at Boston, but he shouldn't be in your peripherals just yet.