Arguably the most important piece of offseason business for Don Waddell and the Columbus Blue Jackets, has now been taken care of. Veteran center Charlie Coyle put pen to paper today, signing a 6-year contract extension.
The 34 year old had a huge year with the Blue Jackets this season, scoring 20 goals and finishing 4th on the team in scoring with 58 points. He was also outstanding on the defensive side of the puck, playing at what many thought was a Selke Trophy level.
Acquired by the team last summer from the Colorado Avalanche, Charlie fit into the Blue Jackets lineup like a square peg. They needed a right shot center who could win some faceoffs and help them in all situations, and he did exactly that.
In fact, I don't think it's a stretch to say that he was a bit of a revelation for this team. His presence on the third line gave this team a much deeper overall look, as he became the perfect supporting piece for Adam Fantilli and Sean Monahan.
Once the team extends Fantilli off of his entry level deal, having Coyle and Monahan both around gives them a lot of stability at the center position for the next handful of years. Games are won down the middle, and for the first time in their existence, that's not a position of concern for the Jackets right now.
The dollars are great, but is the term too much?
With a new AAV of just $6 million dollars per year, Charlie Coyle is paid perfectly for a middle-six center. While I don't see him producing at a near 60-point pace too many more times in his career; the other traits he brings are definitely worth that amount of money-especially in a rising cap world.
The concern I have here is the term. This deal pays him until he's 40 years old, so we can expect a pretty significant drop-off in his game in the final two or three years of it. Of course, that could be proven wrong. But, it is concerning. Not many guys play at a high level that late into their career.
Even so, with a smaller cap hit, this deal shouldn't prevent the Jackets from doing other things. It's encouraging to see a talented NHL veteran put down roots in Columbus, if nothing else. That's a sign that this team is turning a corner as far as its perception around the league.
Charlie Coyle on #CBJ exit day on his family's Columbus experience: “We loved it. We honestly loved it. I love the group. I love coming in here every day and being with them and trying to make something good happen and have a great year. Could I see myself here? 100 percent.”
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) May 12, 2026
We're excited to see Charlie remain a Blue Jacket, and hopeful that he can be a leader for this team as they turn the corner into contention.
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