Coyle gets shot on second line
Will play between Hall, Smith today
One of the key questions facing the Bruins coming into this season is just how will they deal with the loss of David Krejci in the No. 2 center slot.
We should get some valuable data on that topic tonight.
Charlie Coyle will be in the lineup centering Taylor Hall and Craig Smith in the preseason finale against the Washington Capitals at the Garden after slowly ramping up during training camp as he fully healed from offseason knee surgery.
B’s prospect Jack Studnicka had been playing between the two wings but, no matter who he’s played with, he has played well in this preseason. While it’s highly doubtful that coach Bruce Cassidy would diverge from his plan to play Coyle between Hall and Smith off whatever happens today, Studnicka has set the bar at a competitive height for Coyle. And the veteran from Weymouth welcomes the competition.
“That’s what you need. That’s what good teams have,” said Coyle. “Every day I think you should feel a little pressure, whether it’s younger guys or older trying to make a push. That’s what makes guys ahead play better. If you don’t, they’re coming up. That’s the mindset you have to have, you have to bring it every day or someone else is going to take your spot. But to have that in your team, where there are guys who can come in and play, that’s only going to make everyone better and make our team better. So you love to see a guy like that play well and push us, push me. I hope I push him. That’s what makes a good team, that’s what makes good teammates, and it’s exactly what we need.”
How well Coyle and Hall play off each other will determine how long the marriage lasts. They both like to have the puck, so a period of adjustment should be somewhat expected. But Cassidy believes they can mesh together, with Hall being even more of a driver of the line.
“That’ll be the chemistry he and Charlie have to develop, and Studs is trying to now. Who carries it?” said Cassidy. “I think with Krech, he was very good at it so Taylor didn’t have to worry about it much. Get open around the blue line for that kick-out when Krech was ready to move it, whereas with Jack, he doesn’t have quite the ability that Krech had to find ice. He may get there, but for him, we were encouraging him if Taylor’s there, get it to him, because he does do that well. Charlie I think will be a mix. He does both. So that will be interesting to see how that plays out. I think Charlie likes to have it, but he likes to have it more in the O-zone down low. He likes to separate, whereas Krech likes to have it between the blue lines to make his plays. There’s the difference between the two attack modes and where they want the puck.”
Coyle recognizes what an asset Hall can be when he’s bursting through the neutral zone with the puck on his stick.
“He’s a guy that you have to respect that speed that backs D-men up and opens ice for whether it’s me or Smitty coming late,” said Coyle, who expected the long practice time before the season opener will help to build chemistry. “But that speed is such a factor. You have to respect it. If you don’t then he’s buzzing by and you see the breakaways he gets on a number of occasions. That’s a deadly asset of his that’s only going to help us, help the team. It opens things up for us.”
Coyle could not think of a player with whom he’s played who is comparable to Hall. But he does not believe the adjustment will be too difficult.
“He’s a pretty special player, everything that he has in his toolbox,” said Coyle. “But I’ve watched him play. It’s a little different playing with him and really understanding that and being able to feed off him and work with him. But I kind of know what he brings, and the reps in practice are only going to help, (today’s game) is only going to help. But, yeah, he’s a very dynamic player who can make a lot of things happen. I’m looking to add to that and do what I can for him on that line.”
As for his health, Coyle said he’s ready to go. He had surgery to repair an avulsion fracture and small patella tendon tear in his left knee.
“You always can think back and say ‘Oh I wish I was healthy this summer so I could get more reps in and work on things more.’ But the main thing is being 100 percent ready to go for Game 1. And I know that’s where I am and it’s where I’m going to be when the time comes,” he said. “That’s the most important in my mind, that way I can feel confident in everything I do and I can just go play hockey.”
Elsewhere, the B’s placed forwards Cameron Hughes, Joona Koppanen and defenseman Tyler Lewington on waivers.