The Minnesota Wild are in their longest playoff run in a decade, reaching the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since the 2014-15 season. While many of those players who were on that team have gone into retirement, there are still some who are sticking around into their 30s including Charlie Coyle.
Currently with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Coyle was set to cash in as one of the top available players on the free agent market this summer. But Christmas came early for the 34-year-old as Coyle signed a six-year, $36 million extension with the Blue Jackets on Tuesday morning.
Paying $6 million a season for a player who was viewed as a disappointment during his time in Minnesota has the makings of a feel good story. But it might give Wild general manager Bill Guerin indigestion as it shows what the cost of acquiring a top-tier center could be going into the offseason.
Charlie Coyle’s payday limits Wild’s pursuit of a No. 1 center
Coming over as the centerpiece of a trade that sent Brent Burns to the San Jose Sharks, Coyle spent seven seasons with the Wild, scoring 91 goals and recording 242 points over 479 games. While Coyle was a solid player, he never reached the point of becoming a top-line center and was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ryan Donato and a draft pick that turned out to be forward Matvey Guskov.
Coyle played with his home state Bruins for seven seasons, scoring 96 goals and recording 230 points over 452 games. But he was traded midway through the 2024-25 season to Columbus with two goals and 13 assists in his first 19 games.
This set the stage for Coyle to have a strong season with the Blue Jackets, reaching the 20-goal mark for the first time since the 2023-24 season and recording 58 points. But while Coyle has played in every game for five straight seasons and is a baseline player, the price tag could cause significant sticker shock as the WIld dives into the free agent market.
According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, Coyle was the No. 7 overall free agent in this year’s class and No. 2 center behind Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. While Malkin was ranked sixth on Johnston’s list, he’ll turn 40 in July and may look for a contract in excess of what Coyle got from the Blue Jackets.
This is where things could get messy. The Wild could use some depth down the middle but some of that money could go to Michael McCarron, whose contract is expiring after a midseason trade with the Nashville Predators. It could also force Guerin to pivot to the trade market for a big fish like Auston Matthews. But acquiring the Maple Leafs star won’t be easy with other teams bearish on the free agent market.
With Charlie Stramel (No. 73) and Adam Benak (No. 100) the only two Wild prospects in Scott Wheeler’s drafted prospect rankings at The Athletic and no 2027 first-round pick, Minnesota may have to deal NHL ready talent including Jesper Wallstedt or Danila Yurov to get a deal done. And it may be another reason why the Wild could come up empty handed again, in their pursuit of an elite center.
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