LeBrun: Win or lose, the Avalanche have found a fit in deadline acquisition Charlie Coyle

DENVER No team was more aggressive in its roster turnover this season than the Colorado Avalanche.

So much of it was about the pressure to win now.

All of which highlights whats at stake Thursday night when the Avs need a win to extend their season and force a Game 7 with the Dallas Stars.

But win or lose this round, theyve absolutely found a fit in Charlie Coyle, a deadline day acquisition who wasnt a rental, and thats a good thing.

Theyve fixed their third-line center spot at least through next season with him.

Advertisement Hes looked like hes fit in since he got here.

First of all, Im not surprised that hes doing well, former Bruins teammate Patrice Bergeron told The Athletic .

Because I feel hes the most versatile player that Ive seen in a long time.

He plays center, he plays wing, he can play up and down the lineup, he has no ego.

He just wants to give it all for his team and for the collective result.

Its been pretty impressive just to watch and see him grow.

I watched him play in Minnesota, but then he came to Boston and I got to know him on a more personal level and how much he cared for the game and the way that he prepares himself.

And hes a family man and an amazing teammate, added Bergeron.

Not surprised that hes thriving, what a great acquisition for the Avalanche.

Coyle leads the Avs with a 58.7 win rate in the dot in this playoff series and leads his team in short-handed time on ice.

In other words, hes doing what they brought him in to do.

That skill set was already there before he got to Boston in 2019, but being around multiple Selke Trophy winner Bergeron day in and day out helped Coyle refine his toolbox, especially on faceoffs.

I can be better on faceoffs, I got to dial it in, began Coyle in an interview with The Athletic over the weekend.

Especially in the playoffs.

But yeah, Bergy was one of, if not the best at it.

I dont even know how he did it.

Its crazy because hes not the strongest guy.

But he had the form, mentally hes got it, he would get low and on it.

He used a pretty whippy stick.

And Im like, How does that not break? But he was just so solid and knew what he was doing.

He would get it done.

So I did a lot of watching him, gained some tips and things through what he does.

But Im still working on it.

Its a work in progress.

Humility from Coyle, another Bergeron trait.

Which shows itself when the Stanley Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist shared how he tried to help Coyle and other teammates over the years in the art of faceoffs.

Few were ever better than Bergeron during his career.

Advertisement For the most part, its just trying to talk about tendencies, said Bergeron.

I always like to ask questions to other centers about what they see against so and so and what do you do against him? If someone is having a hard time against someone, Ill be like, Why do you think thats the case? And, Have you tried this or that? Everyone has their personal style with faceoffs.

I dont want to change everything theyve been doing for the longest time, added Bergeron.

But I also feel like its always been a collective thing, it was trying to help on both sides with each other, Ill always take as much in and learn from them as much as theyre going to learn from me.

I always like to have that open conversation, making sure were helping each other out.

For Coyle, was it about learning from Bergeron going head-to-head in practice or just watching him? Maybe a little bit of both, whether its in practice and were going against his line, Coyle said.

Like when I was playing third line, we would go against him usually with Pasta and Marchy.

The way we played, they knew how we played defensively and they would expose in-zone against us.

It wasnt fun (he smiled).

But yeah, faceoffs to start, those little drills, five-on-five, or in-zone in practice, continued Coyle.

And watching him in there, and watching him in games, and I used to get clips of him and watch them at home just to gain more insight and look at some different camera views.

Just see his form and what he does, what hes looking at, what hes trying to do.

And then, each guy has their own strength, too.

I do some things that he doesnt necessarily do because he doesnt have to do because hes just so good (at) doing what he does.

So playing to your strengths, too.

And trusting your process, Coyle said.

Dont hesitate.

Advertisement When Im in a rut with faceoffs and not winning as many, Im overthinking it, Coyle said.

Im like, Alright, should I try to tie him up or should I go under his stick? And then its, Ah, I dont know what to do.

And the puck is dropped and youre going 50 percent each way because youre in between, right? So it has to be 100 percent.

Im going to do this.

I like my strength most of the time and you just have to trust that.

The game within the game.

Coyle was traded for a third time in his career when he was sent to Colorado on March 8, having been dealt to Boston from Minnesota back in February 2019 and before that by San Jose in June 2011 in the Brent Burns blockbuster just a year from being drafted 28th overall in the first round by the Sharks.

Being dealt before probably has helped Coyle adjust more quickly than some players who have never experienced it before.

When I got traded last time, it was a big shock, I was in Minnesota for like six and a half years, and all of a sudden, boom, Coyle said.

But at least I was going home.

I was going to a comfortable setting.

But still theres nerves.

I had a girlfriend at the time, but that was an easier move.

I have a daughter now, and yeah, it throws a little wrench in it, too.

Coyles wife and 20-month-old daughter came out to be with him just over three weeks ago, which was obviously comforting on the personal side of adjusting to a new team and city.

The human side of getting traded is always real.

On the one hand, its like, your wife is back there doing all the preparations and packing up the house and youre like, I hope theyre doing OK, said Coyle.

But being here by myself at first, I can at least get my bearings and focus on what I needed to focus on.

But in due time they came, which was obviously great.

Advertisement As Coyle said, hes fortunate really, pointing to how fellow new Avs teammate Brock Nelson was also traded at the deadline and has four kids back in New York still in school; thats not easy on a guy.

It could be a tougher situation for us, so perspective, right? said Coyle of being traded in-season.

Not being a rental player probably also helps things.

Coyle knows his future is in Denver now.

Hes not a two-month pickup.

That helps in the transition as well.

That happened when I got traded to Boston, too; it was the same situation (being part of that teams future moving forward).

So at least you dont have those thoughts swimming in your head, Whats the future look like? Im not even thinking about whats ahead, said Coyle.

Im here for at least the next year.

So I can just go out and play hockey and not worry about whether I have a contract next year.

Thats a little peace of mind.

I can just focus on going out and doing what I do.

Coyle played on some really good teams in Boston, including the one that came within one win of a Cup in 2019.

He arrived in Colorado and looked around the room and was taken aback by all the talent around him here.

Its an interesting comparison to those better Bruins teams he was on.

I was kind of thinking about it the other day.

How many Hall of Famers or future Hall of Famers did we have on some of those teams in Boston? Coyle said.

And then you come in here and the same thoughts go through your head, right? Just the depth in here.

There are guys who can slot in so easily, he added.

Which is great.

Because things happen and you have to have that next-man-up mentality.

In Boston, we had pretty good depth, but I look around here and jeez, were pretty loaded as far as the pieces we have.

Management has done a great job.

Hopefully everyone stays healthy, but weve got some firepower here and everyone can help and pitch in.

Advertisement With Bergeron and David Krejci retired, Coyle put up career highs of 25 goals and 60 points last season in a more elevated role, once again showing his versatility.

But hes back in a third-line center role, which probably suits him more, even if hes proven that he can play in a bigger role if needed.

Ive always prided myself on being a guy who can play up and down the lineup, Coyle said.

When I was in Minnesota, I felt like I was everywhere, I was first, second, third line.

And some fourth line, too.

I played left wing, center, right wing.

And then I went to Boston, were going to put you (here) and see how you do.

And I thought, You know what? Its going to be nice to be solidified and be consistent in a consistent spot.

So here with the Avalanche, we had the same talk, youre going to be put here.

There might be some little changes, but for the most part (its 3C).

So then you have it in your head, you can gear up, get focused and prepared.

And just do the job I need to do.

Ive played this role before on long playoff runs, Coyle added.

And again, yeah, sure, everyone wants to score and be top two lines and play more and all that, but theres also the internal competition, too.

Everyone is pushing each other, right? Everyone is pushing each other to get better, to prepare more and be at the top of their game.

Because we have other guys who can come in (to the lineup).

That holds everyone accountable.

So thats my goal, thats my job, you want to play more to produce more and be better for your team.

I think everyone has that mindset.

But I do like playing in a good, solidified spot.

Which has worked for him here.

The Avs arent surprised hes fit in.

I think its a combination of a lot of things, Avs head coach Jared Bednar said last week.

One, experience, right? Two, we havent asked him to change his role at all.

I think hes in a similar role that hes played throughout the course of his career.

Same game, different team kind of thing.

And you get him with some linemates that kind of think the same way, guys like (Joel Kiviranta) and hes played well with a group of different guys.

But I think all of them, one thing they have in common is theyre really responsible defensive guys and they still have the ability to sort of chip in on the offensive side.

So I just think its detail and a real strong sense of what his role is and what this job is.

(Photo: Jerome Miron / Imagn Images).

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