When the Boston Bruins traded for Charlie Coyle, there were some questions about what the team would do with him. Coyle plays both center and wing positions. Some thought he may play on the right side of David Krejci on the second line while others expected him to center the third line.
The Bruins began to clarify how they viewed Coyle after they assigned third-line center Trent Frederic to Providence while recalling winger Peter Cehlarik. Then, at Friday's practice, the team sent out Coyle as the center on the third line.
Per Kevin Paul Dupont, Bruce Cassidy confirmed after practice that this would be Coyle's role moving forward.
The Bruins have needed an injection of talent on the third line pretty much all season, so this move is sensible. While Coyle would have been a good fill-in alongside Krejci with David Pastrnak out, he is better served to try and fix the unit that has given the Bruins the most problems this season. And that is the third line.
Coyle will have his first chance to make an impact for the Bruins when they finish up their west-coast road trip against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon. The Bruins enter the game on a seven-game win streak while the Blues just had an 11-game win streak snapped by the Dallas Stars.
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