Charlie Coyle
Initially acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in a package with Miles Wood, Charlie Coyle was expected to be a solid veteran presence in the bottom six who brought physicality and leadership, and maybe some secondary scoring if things really clicked.
As it turned out, things did click. Despite turning 34 in March, Coyle scored the third-most goals in his career with 20 and the second-most points with 58. It's not earth-shattering, but still really solid secondary scoring for a team that desperately needed it.
He was also one of the most versatile players the team had, playing quite a bit in both special teams groups. He also maintained his level of physicality, throwing 111 hits while playing in all 82 games. This earned him a nice contract extension this offseason to keep him around long-term.
With there not being a clear-cut 2C behind Fantilli, Coyle could easily make a strong push for that role, as he only finished one point behind than the youngster. Although the third line of himself, Cole Sillinger, and Mathieu Olivier was the most consistent, there may not be a better option.
And while it may be a lot to ask from the vet, the Blue Jackets need more offense from their middle six, and he will need to continue to produce it.
His maturity, consistency, and solid two-way game would make him a good fit to be between two skilled wingers, with Kent Johnson and Conor Garland seeming the most likely to fill those roles.
Even another healthy season of around 20 goals and 55 points would be enough to put the team in a position to be successful. Add in everything else Coyle brings, and you've got a second line with decent scoring potential without sacrificing too much defensively.
The last player we're going over showed potential in his rookie year, but had a lot more maturity this past season while being a big part of the second defensive pair.
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