Coyle traded to Avalanche by Bruins for Mittelstadt

Charlie Coyle was traded to the Colorado Avalanche by the Boston Bruins on Friday for Casey Mittelstadt.

The Bruins also acquired forward prospect William Zellers and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Coyle, a 33-year-old forward, is in the fifth of a six-year contract he signed with the Bruins on Nov. 27, 2019, and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He has 22 points (15 goals, seven assists) in 64 games this season.

"I'm pretty excited," Coyle said Saturday. "It's kind of crazy how fast things change, and a lot of guys go through it, but when you're in it, it's just kind of a whirlwind. You're playing for your team in Boston. It's my hometown. I love being there. So it's definitely bittersweet, but on the other hand, such a great opportunity here to join a really, really good team, and that excites me a lot. So I'm pretty pumped. I'm really excited. I've gotten to meet a few of the guys already. There's probably a couple I still haven't met, honestly. So I'm just looking to get acquainted and just help this team any way I can, but everyone's been so welcoming and warm, which has helped the transition."

The No. 28 pick by the San Jose Sharks in the 2010 NHL Draft, Coyle has 472 points (187 goals, 285 assists) in 931 regular-season games for the Bruins, Minnesota Wild and 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists) in 119 playoff games.

Coyle said he'll be happy playing for the Avalanche rather than being an opponent.

"[Played] against some of them when I was in Minnesota (with the Wild) a lot. Tried to get away from them going out east to Boston. It's not fun playing against these guys. Their power play, trying to contain them there, anywhere on the ice, honestly, they're always a top-notch team. You've got to be on your game to play against them, and it's always a tough task. So to join that caliber of players and team organization as a whole, it's just very exciting, and I feel lucky to be where I am right now, and just want to make the most of the opportunity."

On Friday, Colorado also acquired defenseman Erik Johnson from the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Givani Smith.Johnson has three points (one goal, two assists) in 22 games this season and 346 points (94 goals, 252 assists) in 1,009 regular-season games for the Flyers, Avalanche and St. Louis Blues. He spent 13 seasons with Colorado and won the Stanley Cup in 2022.

The moves come less than 24 hours after Colorado acquired Brock Nelson and forward prospect William Dufour from the New York Islanders for defenseman Oliver Kylington, forward prospect Calum Ritchie, a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a conditional third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.

Colorado (37-24-2), which has won four in a row, is tied with the Minnesota Wild for third place in the Central Division. It also received a fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft.

Mittelstadt is in the first season of a three-year contract he signed with the Avalanche on June 25, 2024, and can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season.

The 26-year-old forward has 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 63 games this season.

"I was surprised," Mittelstadt said Saturday about being traded. "I maybe thought something was coming, but it was getting pretty close, so I wasn't sure. But I was excited, of course you want it to work out anywhere you are, so there was some disappointment with that. But I'm very excited to come to such a storied franchise with a great tradition. I know a bunch of guys here as well, so I feel like that really helps the transition with a new team. So, yeah, very excited."

Selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round (No. 8) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Mittelstadt has 230 points (77 goals, 153 assists) in 420 regular-season games for the Avalanche and Sabres and nine points (three goals, six assists) in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Mittelstadt said he hopes to be able to contribute for the Bruins, who traded several players with long histories in Boston on Friday, including Coyle, forward Brad Marchand (to the Florida Panthers) and defenseman Brandon Carlo (Toronto Maple Leafs).

"I think there's a big opportunity, especially with some of the people that are gone," he said. "It's crazy to see some of the people go from here and even from afar I can tell what they've meant. Maybe a little bit of a new beginning and a lot of opportunities, so it's on me to play well.

"I think there's a lot of room for growth. The main thing for me is really finding a consistent game night in and night out. I feel like when I play well I'm really good."

Bruins coach Joe Sacco said the Bruins plan to utilize Mittelstadt's offensive capabilities, particularly on the man advantage.

"He generates offense. ... Good hands, sees the ice very well, can make plays in tight areas," Sacco said. "I think he's obviously going to be counted upon to generate some offense for our group. We're going to use him on the power play tonight and see how that goes."

A third-round pick (No. 76) in the 2024 NHL Draft, Zellers, 18, has 58 points (37 goals, 21 assists) in 40 games with Green Bay of the United States Hockey League.

Boston (28-28-8) is three points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

NHL.com independent correspondents Ryan Boulding and Corey Long contributed to this report