Blue Jackets Acquire Veteran Forward from Avalanche

Coyle, 33, is in the final year of a six-year, $31.5 million contract ($5.25 average annual value) that he signed with the Boston Bruins in 2019.

The Avalanche acquired Coyle from the Bruins at the trade deadline, but unfortunately, the fit wasn't there. While he put up solid numbers in the regular season, scoring two goals and 13 points in 19 games with Colorado, he only had one goal in the Avalanche's seven-game loss to the Dallas Stars in the first round.

With Colorado recently extending Brock Nelson, another trade deadline acquisition, Coyle's salary was likely too much for a third-line center. The Avalanche had just $1.2 million in cap space prior to this trade, per PuckPedia.

Columbus, meanwhile, is swimming in cap space with over $40 million to work with prior to this trade. The Blue Jackets surpassed all expectations this season and only barely missed the playoffs, so it makes some sense to make a push this offseason.

Coyle is still a solid forward, and is just one year removed from posting a career-high 25 goals and 60 points with Boston in 2023-24. He should be a solid addition for Columbus, both on the ice and in the locker room.