The Colorado Avalanche made several roster moves ahead of Friday’s trade deadline, one of which brought in Charlie Coyle. Before Saturday’s 7-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Coyle addressed the media, reflecting on the emotions surrounding his departure from the Boston Bruins. He described the trade as “bittersweet,” marking his first public comments since leaving his hometown team.
“I’m pretty excited, but it’s crazy how quickly things can change,” Coyle said. “Playing for Boston, my hometown team, meant a lot to me, so leaving is tough. But on the flip side, I’m joining a great team here, and that’s really exciting.”
Coyle, 33, has tallied 23 points over 65 games this season. He’s in the fifth year of the six-year deal he signed with the Bruins in November 2019 and is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. His move was part of a major roster shake-up by Boston, which also saw captain Brad Marchand on the move, along with defenseman Brandon Carlo, who was traded to Toronto.
Ironically, Coyle made his Avalanche debut against Carlo’s new team, the Maple Leafs, on Saturday. He mentioned traveling to Colorado with Carlo, reflecting on the strange circumstances. “It’s funny how it works out,” Coyle said. “One day, he’s your teammate and close friend, and the next, you’re lining up against him.”
Coyle added that their shared experience helped them process the whirlwind of emotions. In the end, Coyle and the Avalanche came out on top, securing two points in the win over Toronto.
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