Minnesota Wild: Could the Boston Bruins be in for Charlie Coyle?

Should the Minnesota Wild decide that they are indeed a ‘seller’ at the Trade Deadline; they should be giving the Boston Bruins a call to see if they’d take on Charlie Coyle.

The Weymouth, Massachusetts born Charlie Coyle, has oft been rumoured as a trading chip for the Minnesota Wild. Surely he wouldn’t be too upset at heading back to his home state and the Boston Bruins. Any deal though would need to have returns that offer more bang-for-buck than the Nino Niederreiter deal did.

With his heaviness and fore-checking, you’d think that Charlie Coyle would be a very easy fit on a Bruins team in need of secondary scoring options. The fact that he can fill in as either a center or right wing should make him even more valuable as the Bruins hope to head back to the play-offs once more. That additional versatility isn’t something to be scoffed at come play-off time.

Just looking at where he has fit for the Minnesota Wild this season, you’d have to see a nice fit on either the Boston Bruins’ second or third line for Charlie Coyle if they took him on. Season on season, he’s been good for more around thirty to forty points; he’s only two seasons removed from hitting 56 points, in fact.

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Given that he’s very much on a team-friendly deal of just $3.2 million and wouldn’t serve as just a rental piece (he’s contracted until the end of next season), you’d hope for a decent return – maybe there are some options in the Boston Bruins’ prospect pool that may take the Minnesota Wild’s fancy.

The obvious names that jump out are Jack Studnicka and Urho Vaakanainen; both of whom are unlikely to be offered up but in terms of talent, you’d have to say have the highest potential among the youngsters.

Given Studnicka has only just turned 20 and is a near point-per-game center in the OHL, you’d assume he’s untouchable. Likewise, Vaakanainen has looked strong in his games with the Providence Bruins in the AHL this year and looks to offer some defensive stability long-term as the Boston Bruins eventually move on from Zdeno Chara.

If either of these two were offered as options, likewise if this year’s first round pick found it’s way onto the table; the deal would be an absolute no-brainer for the Minnesota Wild.

A more reasonable expectation would be to see someone like Ryan Donato, Anders Bjork or Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson offered up. All of these guys are slightly older than the aforementioned, all being aged 22, but offer very good options in terms of shaking things up with the Wild depth chart.

Beyond that, there’s plenty of other younger talent to like on the Boston Bruins roster, but you have to wonder who they’d actually be willing to give up for a player in Charlie Coyle that has been stable but never exactly amazing.

Do you target stability and consistency if you’re the Bruins and offer up a strong prospect and maybe a later round pick to the Minnesota Wild?

Or if there is a deal to be made, will we see Minnesota Wild General Manager Paul Fenton also get fleeced on the return for Charlie Coyle, as it’s appearing he did with Nino?