The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired right-shot centre Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick (77th overall) and a conditional 2027 second-round pick, alongside prospect Gavin Brindley.
The conditions of the 2027 second-round pick are that the pick will be the lower of Columbus’ second-round picks in that year, as they own two in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.
Coyle, 33, finished the 2024-25 season with Colorado after being traded from Boston in exchange for forward Casey Mittelstadt, prospect William Zellers and a 2025 second-round draft pick. The Bruins acquired him from the Minnesota Wild for Ryan Donato and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, who became Cade Webber.
Miles Wood, also joining Coyle in Columbus, finished the 2024-25 season in Colorado, but was not a trade acquisition by the Avalanche. Wood signed a six-year contract worth $2.5 million annually on July 1st, 2023. He is in the third year of his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the 2029 offseason when he turns 33.
Wood was drafted in the fourth round at 100th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He was a consistent 25-30 point scorer, mostly finding himself scoring in the high 20s. The 6-foot-2 Buffalo, New York-born winger is known for his physicality and grit in any team’s bottom-six.
He performed well for the Avalanche in 2023-24, but his production took a dive as he wasn’t able to find his footing this past season. Given a fresh start with Columbus, the acquisition of Miles Wood should look great as he brings a level of intensity that will mesh well with Columbus’ current roster construction.
Coyle, a former 28th overall pick from the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, was traded a year later to the Minnesota Wild from San Jose with Devin Setoguchi and a first-round pick in 2011, becoming Zack Philips, for Brent Burns and a second-round draft pick in 2012, becoming Pontus Aberg.
Coyle has played 13 professional seasons in the NHL and split one between the NHL and AHL. He’s posted 485 points (189G, 296A) in 950 career NHL games while also adding 53 points (26G, 27A) in 126 career NHL postseason contests.
The East Weymouth, Massachusetts-born forward fills Columbus’ need and search for a right-shot centre. One has to wonder if the Blue Jackets and Don Waddell aren’t done, given the Blue Jackets’ push to be more competitive in 2025-26.
Coyle is in the final year of his six-year contract, carrying a $5.25 million cap hit, signed back in November of 2019. He will be an unrestricted free agent in the 2026 offseason, and likely a big target should the Blue Jackets be unable to retain his services.
Columbus takes on the full cap hits of both players, freeing up $7.75 million in cap space for the cap-strapped Colorado Avalanche. It’s a tidy bit of work for both teams, needing to fill certain needs this offseason.
ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again – Inside The Rink
Discover more from Inside The Rink
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
