![\"Charlie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WMUXKYGT7H7L4WBI4V6ZQR5IG4.JPG\")
Charlie Coyle (top right) celebrates a goal with Brandon Carlo (top left) as Jake DeBrusk skates in to join them.Jessica Rinaldi\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m looking at my phone and I see Don Sweeney come across the screen,\u201d Coyle told the Globe from his summer base on Cape Cod. \u201cI immediately show it to Brando, and he goes, \u2018Uh-oh.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
Coyle moved to the back of the bus for some privacy and chatted with the Bruins general manager, who informed the veteran center he was being shipped to Colorado, where the Avalanche were surging toward the playoffs.<\/p>\n
The Bruins, while not officially eliminated, were headed in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe writing was on the wall,\u201d Coyle said. \u201cWe just weren\u2019t playing that well and time was running out.\u201d<\/p>\n
After hanging up, Coyle\u2019s suddenly ex-teammates moved toward him to get the scoop and offer encouragement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get off the call and I start making calls, to my wife, to my agents, to my father, to everyone just to let them know,\u201d said Coyle. \u201cThe guys started coming back one by one saying, \u2018What\u2019s going on?\u2019 It was kind of awkward because, what do you say? It\u2019s kind of funny in a way but definitely an awkward situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
About an hour later, Coyle got another unexpected call.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was Brando. He\u2019s like, \u2018Hey, I just got traded, too,\u2019 \u201d said Coyle, noting Carlo was dealt to Toronto.<\/p>\n
Carlo\u2019s call came in the middle of a whirlwind for Coyle, who was awaiting marching orders from the Avalanche brass when he got thrown a curveball.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone called me from a Colorado number, I picked it up and it was a reporter. And they\u2019re like, \u2018Oh, so you got traded, can you talk about it?\u2019 I was like, \u2018Oh.\u2019 So, I just hung up,\u201d Coyle recalled with a chuckle. \u201cSo, it was kind of a funky thing. And then things on Twitter break and then your buddies are texting you, random people are texting you this and that. It\u2019s kind of wild all at once.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Avalanche finally got in touch and wanted Coyle in the lineup the next night in Denver. So, Coyle caught a flight and again plopped down next to a familiar face.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe and Brando hopped a flight together because we were playing against each other the next night, which was pretty nuts,\u201d Coyle said.<\/p>\n
Coyle and Carlo had plenty of practice battles over the years, but this would be a new experience. Facing each other in a game situation was topic No. 1 on the plane.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just kind of knew, we\u2019re both going to pretty good teams where we want to establish ourselves and play good hockey,\u201d said Coyle. \u201cAnd when a team trades for you at the deadline, they want you for a reason. You\u2019re a special piece for them and you want to perform well. So, I think we just kind of knew like, \u2018Hey, yeah, this is weird. We were just teammates for many years, and we traveled together here, but come tomorrow, we\u2019re playing against each other, and we have to go hard.\u2019 <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I mean we have practices and stuff where we, not to that tempo, but really challenge each other. And Brando is one of the nicest guys in the world; I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever been mad at him. But you try to do those things in practice too, to push yourself.\u201d <\/p>\n
Coyle remembers the adrenaline and competitiveness kicking in as soon as the puck dropped.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just remember going in the corner with him one time and he\u2019s a big boy, so I had to go try to knock him off the puck and I tried to hit him pretty good, nothing cheap, but just hockey because if I don\u2019t, I\u2019ve had a lot of practices with him before, he is a big boy, he is going to put me down,\u201d said Coyle. \u201cI think once we were playing and stuff, it was just mutual, we were trying to do our jobs and it didn\u2019t matter if it was me or someone else, he was going hard. And same thing with me, I was going to go hard against him or whoever was out against me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coyle acknowledged the fresh start was a good one, but one of the toughest parts of the trade was leaving his family behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I mean, you go into a new team, you\u2019re trying to get your bearings and figure things out, and my season wasn\u2019t going as I had planned. I think almost everyone was in kind of the same boat, but the change of scenery is necessary sometimes, getting away from home where I knew everyone and all that,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe other thing is when you get traded, I have my wife and my daughter, and I have two dogs. So, I\u2019m on the road when it happens, I couldn\u2019t even go say, \u2018Hey, bye, I\u2019m going to Colorado.\u2019 I just went right to Colorado from Tampa Bay. I didn\u2019t see them for 3\u00bd weeks. So, you\u2019re in Colorado kind of by yourself and your family and everyone to be with you and be situated, but it\u2019s just not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a silver lining for Coyle, who collected 13 points in 19 games with the Avalanche.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I could do was just focus on the hockey and this and that and yeah, I\u2019m not getting really to take the dogs out or pitch in changing diapers \u2014 which I wish I was \u2014 but selfishly at that time you\u2019re by yourself and you can kind of focus on what you need to focus on,\u201d said Coyle, who just celebrated the second birthday of his daughter, Lilia. \u201cBut of course, when I got my family back in Colorado and they moved out there, it was much better.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Coyles are on the move after Charlie was dealt to the Blue Jackets in June.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid I think I was going to be traded again? If I had to guess, I would say no. But I knew there was always a chance and [the Avalanche] signed Brock Nelson [three years, $22.5 million] and then you\u2019re wondering what their cap situation was looking like,\u201d said Coyle, who has one year left on his deal at $5.25 million. \u201cSo, you never know. You hear rumors and things like that about what\u2019s kind of going on. But it happened and yeah, again, just got to roll with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coyle has had some preliminary discussion with Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason, and he\u2019s expecting to assume a leadership role for the franchise, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this season.<\/p>\n
It will be a role that will suit Coyle well as he was thought of as a rock in the Bruins locker room by players, staff, and media. Even after difficult and disheartening moments, Coyle would stand at his locker and answer every last question with patience and politeness.<\/p>\n
As he reflected on his time playing for the team he grew up rooting for, Coyle said he never lost perspective on how fortunate he was.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I was kind of doing that the last six years, as well,\u201d said the Weymouth native. \u201cJust sometimes you just get in rhythm, you\u2019re doing your thing, you\u2019re doing your job, whatever, and you kind of forget. But then there\u2019s a lot of points where you just kind of think back and you\u2019re like, \u2018Geez, this is really cool. I want to take advantage.\u2019 You never know when it\u2019s going to end. You never know when you\u2019re going to be traded, or you retire or whatever thing gets you to move on from where you are at that point. So, I think I did a lot of that over the years as I was playing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlie Coyle (top right) celebrates a goal with Brandon Carlo (top left) as Jake DeBrusk skates in to join them.Jessica Rinaldi\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n
Spott on<\/p>\n
Closer look at Bruins\u2019 power play<\/p>\n
When Marco Sturm was handed the Bruins\u2019 reins, he said filling out his staff with someone who had power-play experience was a priority.<\/p>\n
Not long after, Sturm hired Steve Spott, a veteran NHL assistant in charge of running Pete DeBoer\u2019s power-play units in Dallas the last few years.<\/p>\n
The Bruins were moribund on the man-advantage last season, clicking at just 15.2 percent. Only the Flyers, Islanders, and Ducks had a more anemic attack. <\/p>\n
Spott was excited about the challenge. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, we\u2019ve done quite a deep dive into it, along with our video staff, Marco, and me,\u201d said Spott. \u201cThe first thing that we do obviously is look at numbers and the game has changed so much when it comes to analytics. So, we\u2019ve done a deep dive into it with regards to numbers. They don\u2019t mean everything, but at the same time they do tell a bit of a story. So, there are areas that we had some strengths last year, but there\u2019s some areas that we have to continue to work on and get better at. So now we correspond that with video and then we\u2019ll put a package together for training camp to share with the players and then we\u2019ll continue to build our foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spott was quick to point out that there can be multiple reasons why a power play can sag, even for a unit that has enjoyed past success.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou would just assume as a fan that you put your five best players out on the ice, they should have success, but you\u2019d be amazed to think how much the mental game plays into it,\u201d said Spott. \u201cEven at the National Hockey League level, there are stretches on a power play where you know you\u2019re going to score, or you are very well going to get some Grade A opportunities because of how you\u2019re rolling. And there are stretches where, good Lord, you just hope you don\u2019t give up a shorthanded goal. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd so, it\u2019s amazing to see the ups and downs, the peaks and valleys of any team during the season. The key for me with power plays is limiting those valleys. You\u2019re going to have some tough stretches where it\u2019s just not going in, but you have to limit those. You want to be consistent for 82 games. With regards to your foundation, we\u2019ll have a real strong foundation with our power play, but then it\u2019s going to be up to the five best players to execute it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The foundation of any aspect of the offense will be David Pastrnak, who has 122 goals and 260 points on the power play over his 11 seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cFew players on the planet that can do what he can do. Obviously, his hockey IQ, his ability to get open, his shot, his ability to create offense, there\u2019s very few players in the world who can do what David can do,\u201d said Spott. \u201cSo, for me, I\u2019m really excited to work with him. I\u2019m excited to get his feedback back because ultimately, he is a guy that we\u2019re going to lean heavily on to help us create offense with that first unit. But who\u2019s going to be out there with him is going to be the challenge for us as a staff \u2014 to make sure that we\u2019re able to field our best five and ultimately he\u2019s going to be a major player when it comes to that first unit.\u201d <\/p>\n
![\"Bruins](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/7DDCWIHHOFEZVF3Z7LEUEYEINU.jpg\")
Bruins coach Marco Sturm brought on Steve Spott (left), a veteran NHL assistant in charge of running Pete DeBoer\u2019s power-play units in Dallas the last few years.Sam Hodde\/Getty<\/p>\n
Ice cold<\/p>\n
McDavid in no hurry to sign deal<\/p>\n
Connor McDavid\u2019s comments at Team Canada\u2019s Olympic orientation camp last week likely sent shivers up the spines of Oilers fans living in often shivering Edmonton. <\/p>\n
When asked about signing an extension with the Oilers, McDavid, poised to become a free agent and the richest hockey player in the world next July 1, said, \u201cI\u2019d say all options are on the table, really.\u201d <\/p>\n
Brrrr. <\/p>\n
If it gets that far, GMs across the league will be making their pitches (and opening their owners\u2019 wallets) to sign the 28-year-old to a max contract ($19.1 million a year over eight seasons, which is 20 percent of the salary cap).<\/p>\n
\u201cI have every intention to win in Edmonton,\u201d said the man known as McJesus. \u201cIt\u2019s my only focus \u2014 maybe next to winning the [Olympic] gold medal with Canada. But my intention is to win there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor McDavid delivered a masterclass Wednesday on how to deal with an extremely relevant\/tricky question. <\/p>\n
Never believe an athlete who tells you dealing with the media is hard. Just takes a little common sense. pic.twitter.com\/FFfevWAArT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) August 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Right now, he\u2019s only on the books for one more season \u201cthere.\u201d<\/p>\n McDavid is the crown jewel of a 2026 free agent class that includes myriad gems such as Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov, Adrian Kempe, and Kyle Connor.<\/p>\n Quiz time: Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL record with 50 career hat tricks. Who holds the Bruins record? Answer (and a bonus) below … The Bruins open the regular season Oct. 8 in Washington, the first of the Capitals\u2019 18 US national television games \u2014 tops for any team in what might be Alex Ovechkin\u2019s final season. The Bruins, Red Wings, and Avalanche are next with 17 appearances. The Canadiens, Senators, Canucks, and Jets have zero US nationally televised games. I get it, but I don\u2019t get it. Hockey-loving Americans don\u2019t get to see Ottawa\u2019s Brady Tkachuk or Montreal\u2019s Cole Hutson (among other stars) on national TV at all? At least McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will get 16 games on the combo of TNT, ESPN\/ABC, and ESPN+ … Good on Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies for his decision to add a neck guard to his kit this season. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to know that I\u2019m wearing something that can prevent [injuries] and keep me safe on the ice,\u201d Knies said during an Instagram post from Warroad Hockey. \u201cI owe it to my parents and my friends around me to be as safe as possible out there.\u201d … Congrats to former Bruins goalie Ross Brooks, who was inducted into the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame this past week. Brooks signed with the AHL\u2019s Providence Reds in 1961 and later played with the Boston Braves and Bruins. After his playing days, he coached the Reds, worked in the Providence Bruins front office, and coached high school hockey in the Ocean State … Shawn Thornton has left his post as the Panthers\u2019 chief revenue officer to become the new senior vice president and chief partnership officer of the NBA\u2019s Atlanta Hawks … The Bruins will hold a pair of captain\u2019s practices Tuesday and Thursday at Warrior Arena … Quiz answer: Phil Esposito notched 26 hat tricks during his time with the Black and Gold. Espo had a half-dozen more during his run with the Rangers. Oh, and while we\u2019re on the subject (and this is your bonus), did you know the all-time record for hat tricks by an NHL defenseman is nine by a certain No. 4 named Bobby Orr?<\/p>\n Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @globejimmcbride<\/a>.<\/p>\n