The Bruins have won 6 games in a row, that’s all well and good. Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak are both in playoff form, and that’s a scary sight for the rest of the league. However, the Bruins just acquired Charlie Coyle from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Ryan Donato and a 5th round pick and we need to talk about it.

First off, we can all cool off about the Bruins getting someone like Artemi Panarin or Wayne Simmonds. I’m almost certain we all knew that would never happen without royally altering Boston’s core identity of players, or losing all of our cap space taking on massive contracts… or both.

In terms of the move Bruins GM Don Sweeney just made, it does make sense. Charlie Coyle is a 7th year player, a big body forward averaging around 40 points a season with not a massive contract. He will fit perfectly into the third line with absolute potential to move up in Bruce Cassidy’s lineup. Ryan Donato has been incredibly inconsistent this season, bumping up and down between Providence and Boston, struggling to find a rhythm or a line that he fits well on. Did the Bruins give up on him a little prematurely? Possibly. In retrospect, had he not been traded, likely in the future, knowing his own potential, he may have asked for a larger contract which would’ve put Boston in a difficult position.

This trade makes sense right now. It’s clear the Bruins are going for a Stanley Cup run, and Coyle being a strong, durable forward, has the capability to make a difference and add depth, which is key especially in the demanding stretch of games in the playoffs.

Ryan Donato will get more game time in Minnesota, which will certainly allow him to develop and find an identity in the NHL. With him being a free agent at the end of the season, let’s hope he progresses enough where he can sign with a team that will harness his talents and help him grow to his inevitable superstar potential.

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