Ready to re-Coyle: Boston Bruins' Charlie Coyle is back, with a big role to play

As the Red Sox improbable playoff run has brought a merciful end to the endless chatter about Tom Brady's return to Foxboro under an enemy helmet, and as the Celtics prepare with Jaylen Brown in COVID quarantine, from under the radar skates hometown boy Charlie Coyle.

If Charlie sounds like Southie, he's not far off. Barely off the end of the Expressway, in fact, the Weymouth High School grad who played junior hockey out of Foxboro for the South Shore Kings before an abbreviated career at Boston University and some NHL years in Minnesota has a rare opportunity in Boston.

The Bruins haven't needed a second-line center since before Patrice Bergeron ever shared the slot with playmaking savants Marc Savard and David Krejci. Sixteen years later, only Bergeron remains and he needs a new sidekick.

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If Coyle doesn't seem cut out for the job, he certainly didn't look the part in the 2021 playoffs, hobbled and in need of a knee surgery.

Irrespective of the opportunity currently knocking, Coyle was thrilled last week to make the Bruins' final preseason game his first. Not only did his surgically repaired left knee stand up, his powerful stride was restored.

"It's still a work in progress. I've been trying to do everything I can to have the strength, have the power in my stride with the limited time I've had," said Coyle after scoring a goal and assisting on Taylor Hall's goal while logging 16:40 against the Capitals on Oct. 6. "There's definitely a ways to go, but ... I'm going to keep working at it and get better and better."

Heading toward age 30 (March 2, 2022), Coyle is back on his feet and ready to begin anew on the second season of a six-year deal that will pay him an annual $5.25 million. The contract will take him to age 34, one year shy of Krejci's age when the erstwhile Bruin called it an NHL career and went to play before family and friends in his native Czech Republic.

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Krejci's spot is also where Coyle will start the season on Saturday night against Dallas, as coach Bruce Cassidy looks to establish three other magical line combinations behind the elite trio of Bergeron, Brad Marchand and spaghetti tycoon David Pastrnak.

Step 1 in that process is finding a center for Hall and Craig Smith on a team suddenly built more like the Blackhawks than the Bruins.

Back when Chicago was winning the Cup every other year, everyone knew Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp. Few, however, could name the Blackhawks' second-line center. And if they thought they could, Coach Q would juggle his lines before they could put pen to paper.

Jack Studnicka, the kid the Bruins have been grooming for the job, may make a fine NHL center and soon, but one look at Coyle motoring on a repaired knee between Hall and Smith last week in the preseason finale against Washington simplified things.

Besides, Studnicka's assignment to AHL Providence does not require waivers so his performance needed to be extra special to throw doubt into the verdict.

As disappointed as Studnicka must be, the 22-year-old was only good this preseason, not great. If he plays his cards right, he'll be back sooner rather than later.

At 29, Coyle is a solid, 200-foot player. He will never dish out the assists like Krejci, but his skating and puck-protecting abilities are Mark Messier-like so playing on the same line with Hall's lengthy stride creates a rare, two-pronged power game.

Smith is no slouch of a skater, but the former Nashville Predator takes six steps for every one that Coyle or Hall take on the ice. The right winger's pesky game is based on extraordinary quickness and relentless hustle, one of the reasons he can move to any line and help.

Will Coyle between Hall and Smith be a magical combination?

"They're two quick guys but just different strides," said Coyle. "Smitty's pretty quick and stops on a dime and acceleration, and Hallsy just takes off ... I just tried to keep up with those two guys tonight. They push the pace pretty well. That's something that's going to come with more practice time, more reps, but that was a start."

Time will tell on Cassidy's line combinations, but what we do know is that this is a crucial juncture in Coyle's career and for the Bruins, who are minus Krejci and in need of a dynamic second-line center or a new way of winning.

Mick Colageo writes about hockey for The Standard-Times. Follow on Twitter @MickColageo.