The Colorado Avalanche went big at last year’s trade deadline, pulling the trigger on a deal for Charlie Coyle in hopes of solidifying their third-line center spot for a deep playoff run. The price wasn’t cheap - they shipped off Casey Mittelstadt, prospect Will Zellers, and a second-round pick to Boston.
At the time, it looked like a classic win-now move. But now, with the benefit of hindsight, it’s fair to say the return didn’t quite match the investment.
Coyle’s stint in Colorado was short and, frankly, underwhelming from a production standpoint. He logged 19 regular-season games, tallying two goals and 11 assists - decent numbers, but not game-changing.
In the playoffs, he managed just one goal in seven games. He filled the role the Avs needed - a steady 3C - but didn’t exactly tilt the ice.
The issue wasn’t performance so much as circumstance. The Avalanche were up against the salary cap, and retaining Coyle just wasn’t in the cards.
So, in the offseason, Colorado flipped him to Columbus in a trade that brought in promising young forward Gavin Brindley. A tough call, but a necessary one given the financial squeeze.
Fast forward to this season, and Coyle’s been thriving with the Blue Jackets. He’s already notched 15 goals and 39 points, putting him on pace to match his career-best 60-point campaign from 2023-24. He’s found his rhythm in Columbus - but his future there is anything but certain.
Coyle is set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, and with the trade deadline looming, his name is once again circulating in league circles. Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has made it clear: Coyle’s fate will hinge on where Columbus stands in the playoff race as the deadline approaches.
“If you're out of it,” Waddell said, “guys like Charlie probably want to go to another team to play, and he's never missed a playoff in 13 years.”
That’s a telling quote. Coyle’s been a fixture in the postseason every year of his NHL career - and with Columbus currently six points behind Buffalo for the final wild card spot, the clock is ticking. If the Blue Jackets can’t close that gap soon, they may have no choice but to move assets like Coyle and look toward the future.
Which brings us back to Colorado.
The Avalanche are once again in the market for a reliable third-line center, and it’s hard not to connect the dots. Coyle already knows the system, fits the role, and showed flashes of chemistry during his brief time in Denver. While last year’s trade didn’t pan out the way the Avs hoped, Coyle did what was asked of him - and with a lower asking price this time around, he could be worth another look.
It wouldn’t take the kind of haul Colorado gave up last year. As a pending UFA, Coyle’s trade value is more modest this time. But for a contending team looking to bolster its center depth without blowing up the prospect pool, he makes a lot of sense.
Slotting Coyle back into the 3C role would allow the Avalanche to shift Jack Drury down to the fourth line, giving them arguably the deepest center group in the league. That kind of depth down the middle can make all the difference come playoff time.
Of course, Colorado will have other options. The trade market is still taking shape, and there may be other names who fit the bill. But if the price is right and the Blue Jackets decide to sell, Coyle could be a familiar - and valuable - piece to bring back into the fold.
For now, Columbus sits in that murky middle ground - close enough to dream, but far enough to doubt. The Olympic break could serve as a tipping point. By March, the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference should be clearer, and we’ll know whether the Blue Jackets are ready to make a push… or start making calls.
If it’s the latter, don’t be surprised if Colorado is on the line.