DENVER — No team was more aggressive in its roster turnover this season than the Colorado Avalanche.
So much of it was about the pressure to win now. All of which highlights what’s at stake Thursday night when the Avs need a win to extend their season and force a Game 7 with the Dallas Stars.
But win or lose this round, they’ve absolutely found a fit in Charlie Coyle, a deadline day acquisition who wasn’t a rental, and that’s a good thing. They’ve fixed their third-line center spot at least through next season with him.
He’s looked like he’s fit in since he got here.
“First of all, I’m not surprised that he’s doing well,’’ former Bruins teammate Patrice Bergeron told The Athletic. “Because I feel he’s the most versatile player that I’ve seen in a long time. He plays center, he plays wing, he can play up and down the lineup, he has no ego. He just wants to give it all for his team and for the collective result. It’s been pretty impressive just to watch and see him grow. I watched him play in Minnesota, but then he came to Boston and I got to know him on a more personal level and how much he cared for the game and the way that he prepares himself.
“And he’s a family man and an amazing teammate,’’ added Bergeron. “Not surprised that he’s thriving, what a great acquisition for the Avalanche.’’
Coyle leads the Avs with a 58.7 win rate in the dot in this playoff series and leads his team in short-handed time on ice. In other words, he’s doing what they brought him in to do.
That skill set was already there before he got to Boston in 2019, but being around multiple Selke Trophy winner Bergeron day in and day out helped Coyle refine his toolbox, especially on faceoffs.
“I can be better on faceoffs, I got to dial it in,’’ began Coyle in an interview with The Athletic over the weekend. “Especially in the playoffs. But yeah, Bergy was one of, if not the best at it. I don’t even know how he did it. It’s crazy because he’s not the strongest guy. But he had the form, mentally he’s got it, he would get low and on it. He used a pretty whippy stick. And I’m like, ‘How does that not break?’ But he was just so solid and knew what he was doing. He would get it done. So I did a lot of watching him, gained some tips and things through what he does. But I’m still working on it. It’s a work in progress.’’
Humility from Coyle, another Bergeron trait. Which shows itself when the Stanley Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist shared how he tried to help Coyle and other teammates over the years in the art of faceoffs. Few were ever better than Bergeron during his career.
“For the most part, it’s just trying to talk about tendencies,” said Bergeron. “I always like to ask questions to other centers about what they see against so and so and what do you do against him? If someone is having a hard time against someone, I’ll be like, ‘Why do you think that’s the case? And, ‘Have you tried this or that?’
“Everyone has their personal style with faceoffs. I don’t want to change everything they’ve been doing for the longest time,’’ added Bergeron. “But I also feel like it’s always been a collective thing, it was trying to help on both sides with each other, I’ll always take as much in and learn from them as much as they’re going to learn from me. I always like to have that open conversation, making sure we’re helping each other out.’’
For Coyle, was it about learning from Bergeron going head-to-head in practice or just watching him?
“Maybe a little bit of both, whether it’s in practice and we’re going against his line,” Coyle said. “Like when I was playing third line, we would go against him usually with Pasta and Marchy. The way we played, they knew how we played defensively and they would expose in-zone against us. It wasn’t fun (he smiled).
“But yeah, faceoffs to start, those little drills, five-on-five, or in-zone in practice,’’ continued Coyle. “And watching him in there, and watching him in games, and I used to get clips of him and watch them at home just to gain more insight and look at some different camera views. Just see his form and what he does, what he’s looking at, what he’s trying to do. And then, each guy has their own strength, too. I do some things that he doesn’t necessarily do because he doesn’t have to do because he’s just so good (at) doing what he does. So playing to your strengths, too.’’
And trusting your process, Coyle said. Don’t hesitate.
“When I’m in a rut with faceoffs and not winning as many, I’m overthinking it,’’ Coyle said. “I’m like, ‘Alright, should I try to tie him up or should I go under his stick? And then it’s, ‘Ah, I don’t know what to do.’ And the puck is dropped and you’re going 50 percent each way because you’re in between, right? So it has to be 100 percent. I’m going to do this. I like my strength most of the time and you just have to trust that.’’
The game within the game.
Coyle leads the Avs with a 58.7 win rate in the dot in this playoff series and leads his team in short-handed time on ice. (C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images)
Coyle was traded for a third time in his career when he was sent to Colorado on March 8, having been dealt to Boston from Minnesota back in February 2019 and before that by San Jose in June 2011 in the Brent Burns blockbuster just a year from being drafted 28th overall in the first round by the Sharks.
Being dealt before probably has helped Coyle adjust more quickly than some players who have never experienced it before.
“When I got traded last time, it was a big shock, I was in Minnesota for like six and a half years, and all of a sudden, ‘boom,’’’ Coyle said. “But at least I was going home. I was going to a comfortable setting. But still there’s nerves. I had a girlfriend at the time, but that was an easier move. I have a daughter now, and yeah, it throws a little wrench in it, too.’’
Coyle’s wife and 20-month-old daughter came out to be with him just over three weeks ago, which was obviously comforting on the personal side of adjusting to a new team and city. The human side of getting traded is always real.
“On the one hand, it’s like, your wife is back there doing all the preparations and packing up the house and you’re like, ‘I hope they’re doing OK,’’’ said Coyle. “But being here by myself at first, I can at least get my bearings and focus on what I needed to focus on. But in due time they came, which was obviously great.’’
As Coyle said, he’s fortunate really, pointing to how fellow new Avs teammate Brock Nelson was also traded at the deadline and has four kids back in New York still in school; that’s not easy on a guy.
“It could be a tougher situation for us, so perspective, right?’’ said Coyle of being traded in-season.
Not being a rental player probably also helps things. Coyle knows his future is in Denver now. He’s not a two-month pickup. That helps in the transition as well.
“That happened when I got traded to Boston, too; it was the same situation (being part of that team’s future moving forward). So at least you don’t have those thoughts swimming in your head, ‘What’s the future look like?’ I’m not even thinking about what’s ahead,’’ said Coyle. “I’m here for at least the next year. So I can just go out and play hockey and not worry about whether I have a contract next year.
“That’s a little peace of mind. I can just focus on going out and doing what I do.’’
Coyle played on some really good teams in Boston, including the one that came within one win of a Cup in 2019. He arrived in Colorado and looked around the room and was taken aback by all the talent around him here. It’s an interesting comparison to those better Bruins teams he was on.
“I was kind of thinking about it the other day. How many Hall of Famers or future Hall of Famers did we have on some of those teams in Boston?’’ Coyle said. “And then you come in here and the same thoughts go through your head, right? Just the depth in here.
“There are guys who can slot in so easily,’’ he added. “Which is great. Because things happen and you have to have that next-man-up mentality. In Boston, we had pretty good depth, but I look around here and jeez, we’re pretty loaded as far as the pieces we have. Management has done a great job. Hopefully everyone stays healthy, but we’ve got some firepower here and everyone can help and pitch in.’’
With Bergeron and David Krejci retired, Coyle put up career highs of 25 goals and 60 points last season in a more elevated role, once again showing his versatility.
But he’s back in a third-line center role, which probably suits him more, even if he’s proven that he can play in a bigger role if needed.
“I’ve always prided myself on being a guy who can play up and down the lineup,’’ Coyle said. “When I was in Minnesota, I felt like I was everywhere, I was first, second, third line. And some fourth line, too. I played left wing, center, right wing. And then I went to Boston, we’re going to put you (here) and see how you do. And I thought, ‘You know what? It’s going to be nice to be solidified and be consistent in a consistent spot.’ So here with the Avalanche, we had the same talk, you’re going to be put here. There might be some little changes, but for the most part (it’s 3C). So then you have it in your head, you can gear up, get focused and prepared. And just do the job I need to do.
“I’ve played this role before on long playoff runs,’’ Coyle added. “And again, yeah, sure, everyone wants to score and be top two lines and play more and all that, but there’s also the internal competition, too. Everyone is pushing each other, right? Everyone is pushing each other to get better, to prepare more and be at the top of their game. Because we have other guys who can come in (to the lineup). That holds everyone accountable. So that’s my goal, that’s my job, you want to play more to produce more and be better for your team. I think everyone has that mindset. But I do like playing in a good, solidified spot.’’
Which has worked for him here. The Avs aren’t surprised he’s fit in.
“I think it’s a combination of a lot of things,” Avs head coach Jared Bednar said last week. “One, experience, right? Two, we haven’t asked him to change his role at all. I think he’s in a similar role that he’s played throughout the course of his career. Same game, different team kind of thing. And you get him with some linemates that kind of think the same way, guys like (Joel Kiviranta) and he’s played well with a group of different guys. But I think all of them, one thing they have in common is they’re really responsible defensive guys and they still have the ability to sort of chip in on the offensive side. So I just think it’s detail and a real strong sense of what his role is and what this job is.’’
(Photo: Jerome Miron / Imagn Images)
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