Charlie Coyle’s Impact in Columbus Is Too Big to Ignore - Now Comes the Contract Question
As the NHL hits pause for the Olympic break, Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has a full plate - and it starts with figuring out the future of Charlie Coyle.
With 23 players on expiring contracts, this break is more than just a chance to reset - it’s a crucial window for Waddell to connect with agents and start laying the groundwork for what this roster looks like beyond this season. And near the top of that priority list is a player who’s become far more than just a mid-summer acquisition.
Coyle, brought in just before the draft last year, wasn’t exactly a headline-grabber at the time. But fast forward a few months, and the 33-year-old center has become a cornerstone in Central Ohio. He’s not just fitting in - he’s helping shape the identity of this team.
Through 56 games, Coyle sits third on the team in scoring, with 15 goals and 42 points. He’s been a model of consistency, suiting up for every contest and logging 17:43 of ice time per night - fourth-most among Blue Jackets forwards. He’s earned key minutes on both the power play and penalty kill, and he’s doing it all while anchoring the middle six with veteran poise.
What makes Coyle so valuable isn’t just the numbers - it’s how seamlessly he complements the rest of the center group. With him and Sean Monahan in the fold, the Jackets have two experienced, two-way pivots who can take on tough matchups, win faceoffs, and stabilize the ice when things get chaotic. It’s a luxury most teams don’t have: a left-shot and a right-shot center who can be trusted in any zone, against any opponent.
That duo’s presence also helps ease the pressure on young Adam Fantilli, giving the rookie more offensive freedom up top while Coyle and Monahan handle the heavy lifting in the trenches.
Coyle’s game checks every box you want in a second- or third-line center. He’s big, smart, defensively responsible, strong in the circle, and a respected voice in the room. He’s the kind of player who makes your team better in ways that don’t always show up on the scoresheet - but still manages to fill the scoresheet anyway.
Now comes the hard part: figuring out what it’s going to take to keep him in Columbus.
Coyle is in the final year of a six-year, $31.5 million deal he signed back in 2019 with Boston. Since then, he’s had a short stint in Colorado before landing with the Blue Jackets, where he’s quickly become a key piece of the puzzle.
At 33, Coyle isn’t getting any younger, and he’ll turn 34 next month. That’s the one caveat that might give the front office pause when discussing term.
But here’s the thing - Coyle’s game has never relied on blazing speed. He’s not a burner, and never was.
His value lies in his hockey IQ, positioning, and ability to win battles in all three zones. That kind of game tends to age well.
There’s a strong case to be made that he still has 3-4 solid years left in the tank. And that’s exactly the kind of term Columbus should be considering.
So what might a new deal look like?
Sean Monahan, two years younger than Coyle, signed a five-year, $5.5 million AAV contract last summer - a deal that accounted for 6.25% of the team’s cap at the time. That’s a useful benchmark, but given the league’s rising salary cap, Coyle’s next contract could (and probably should) come in with a higher annual value, even if the percentage hit remains comparable.
A reasonable projection? Somewhere in the range of four years at $6.5 million per season.
Maybe even $7 million, depending on negotiations. It’s not a small number, but in today’s cap environment, it’s the going rate for a veteran center who delivers on both ends of the ice and brings leadership to the locker room.
For a team trying to take the next step and make a legitimate playoff push, keeping a player like Coyle in the fold makes a lot of sense. He’s been a steadying force this season - a player who not only produces, but helps elevate those around him.
If both sides are motivated - and there’s every reason to believe they are - this is a deal that should get done. Because for all the moving parts Waddell has to juggle over the break, locking in Charlie Coyle might be the most important piece of the puzzle.