Charlie Coyle
One player who has committed to Columbus for the long haul is veteran center Charlie Coyle. After being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche last summer, he turned out to be a revelation for the team, centering the identity line and even earning some Selke Trophy buzz.
In a way, Coyle's addition made Jenner expendable. He was able to do something Boone has struggled to do over the last several years: stay healthy. And, he was very productive on both sides of the puck.
He scored 20 goals and 58 points, averaging a career high 18:06 minutes a night, while playing in all 82 games. A much-needed right shooting center, he also won more than his share of faceoffs, and featured on both the top power-play and penalty kill units.
As a result, he became a hot commodity as a pending UFA at the end of the season. Rather than letting him walk, the Blue Jackets rewarded him with a 6-year contract extension that should keep him in Columbus for the rest of his playing career.
The only thing that might have overshadowed his play is his personality. Off the ice, no matter who you asked or where you looked, his professionalism stood out. Charlie has a calm, cool demeanor; and he never shied away from the cameras. He's the kind of guy that will look you right in the eye and give you an honest assessment.
When you put it all together, this guy screams NHL captain. As a veteran of 1,032 games, I'm honestly surprised he hasn't had the honor to this point. If he is handed this privilege next season, would any of us be surprised or disappointed?
I know I wouldn't. Charlie seems perfectly capable of leading the charge for an NHL team. I'm happy he chose to stick around with the Blue Jackets. Lets look at the final candidate on the last slide.
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