The Columbus Blue Jackets have taken advantage of the Avalanche cap crunch. On Friday, the Jackets acquired Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood from Colorado in exchange for Gavin Brindley, a 2025 third-round pick, and a conditional second-round pick in 2027. The second round pick in 2027 will be the lower of Columbus' two picks.
This move should not come as a surprise, as the Blue Jackets are rumored to be one of the busiest teams at the draft and in the offseason. Having just missed the playoffs in 2024-25, with nearly $40 million in cap space. But what role will Coyle and Woods have on the Jackets and are these two enough to get them over the hump and make the playoffs in 2025-26?
Are Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood enough to get the Blue Jackets back to the playoff?
Coyle is coming off a decent season for the Avalanche and Bruins. He registered 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points with 108 hits and 24 penalty mintues. He also achieved one of the most unique accomplishments, having played in 83 games, one more than in a typical NHL season. This was due to him being traded and the Avalanche having played fewer games than the Bruins did at the time of the trade.
He should slot into the third center role on the Blue Jackets' lines. However, he won't be locked into that role for the entire season. Coyle is a versatile forward who can play up and down the lineup. He also has the ability to play the wing, allowing Dean Evason to get creative with his line combinations.
He is also a very physical player, allowing him to excel at the defensive side of the sport. This makes him a perfect addition for the Jackets' penalty kill, an area that needed help as they were 22nd in the league last season.
With Coyle having spent 13 years in the NHL, he's the perfect player to be a mentor. The Columbus roster features several young, talented players, including Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, and Kent Johnson. He's someone these young guys can lean on and learn from, which will help their development.
Although this trade revolves around Coyle, Wood should not be overlooked. He appeared in only 37 games for the Avs during the 2024-25 season due to a back injury, recording four goals and four assists for eight points, along with 48 hits and 48 penalty minutes. When healthy, he usually averages 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points, 102 hits, and 88 penalty minutes.
Wood should slot into the Jackets' bottom six, with him most likely being the left winger on the fourth line. He'll bring speed and physicality, as well as help create scoring opportunities off the rush. He's also a great forechecker and will use his 6' 2" frame to his advantage. If he can find a way to become more consistent, he could climb the lineup.
While there are more moves to be made, this is a good start to the offseason for the Blue Jackets. It could be the move that get the Blue Jackets back to the playoff for the first time since 2019-20.
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