Charlie Coyle

Charles Robert Coyle, born March 2, 1992, is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL. His career has also included stints with the Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins, and Colorado Avalanche.

Coyle’s path to the pros began in Massachusetts, where he played his freshman year at Weymouth High School. That season, he helped the Wildcats reach their first-ever Super 8 finals at TD Garden, where they faced Boston College High School. Along the way, the public school team upset several private-school powerhouses, including Malden Catholic, Austin Prep, and Central Catholic. He later attended Thayer Academy in Braintree before finishing his senior year back at Weymouth. Before college, Coyle played Tier III Junior A hockey for the South Shore Kings in the EJHL, finishing fifth in league scoring with 63 points in 42 games.

He committed to Boston University for the 2010–11 season. In his first exhibition game against the University of Toronto, he recorded two assists, and he finished the regular season with 26 points in 37 games. On December 16, 2011, Coyle left BU to sign with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, where he played part of a single season in 2012.

The San Jose Sharks selected Coyle in the first round (28th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. On June 25, 2011, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild alongside Devin Setoguchi and a first-round pick in exchange for Brent Burns and a second-round pick. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Wild on March 1, 2012, and remained with the Sea Dogs for the rest of that season.

Coyle made his NHL debut on February 4, 2013, wearing number 63. He skated 12:44, recording two shots and a hit. His first NHL goal and point came on February 23 against Calgary Flames goaltender Joey MacDonald. A memorable goal on March 30 against the Los Angeles Kings saw him fall to his knees while shooting a one-timer, retrieve his own rebound, and score on a backhand for his eighth goal of the season. He also had his first NHL fight that season, taking on Brandon Dubinsky after receiving a match penalty for a hit on Artem Anisimov; the NHL did not issue further discipline. He later switched his jersey number to 3, the same number he wore in college and the QMJHL.

Coyle gained viral attention after waving to a fan named Henry during warm-ups; the boy’s reaction was posted on YouTube. A few weeks later, Coyle met Henry and his family the day before a Wild game against the St. Louis Blues. In the 2015–16 season, he finished second on the team in goals behind Zach Parise, setting personal bests in goals, assists, and points, and breaking the 20-goal mark for the first time. Early in the 2017–18 season, a broken leg suffered against the Chicago Blackhawks ended his franchise-record streak of 316 consecutive games. He returned on November 20 after missing 16 games. Later that season, a puck hit him in the mouth against the New York Rangers, requiring stitches, and a stick to the mouth against the Arizona Coyotes required more.

On February 20, 2019, the Wild traded Coyle to the Boston Bruins for Ryan Donato and a fifth-round pick. He struggled initially, posting two goals and four assists in 21 regular-season games, but found his stride in the 2019 playoffs. Centering the third line with Marcus Johansson and Danton Heinen, he scored nine goals and 16 points in 24 games as the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the St. Louis Blues in seven games. On February 1, 2020, during his return to Minnesota, he was named an alternate captain for the Bruins. In late 2019, he signed a six-year, $31.5 million contract extension through 2026.

After the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejčí, Coyle took on a larger role as a top center. He responded with a career year, scoring 25 goals and 60 points. On November 9, 2023, he recorded his first NHL hat-trick in a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders. Heading into the 2024–25 season, he aimed to build on that success alongside new Bruins signing Elias Lindholm, but both Coyle and the team struggled offensively.