The Boston Bruins have traded center Charlie Coyle and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche for Casey Mittelstadt, William Zellers, and a 2025 second-round pick.

The Bruins receive: a potential second-line center who, aside from the first dozen games or so, has been producing at a third-line level. Mittelstadt does still have some upside, and chemistry with the likes of an Elias Lindholm or David Pastrnak could see him hit it, but he’s just one of three centers (Pavel Zacha, Elias Lindholm) who will bounce around from 1C to 3C, or even 2W.

Older Canadians, when they see “Zellers” they think “Wal-Mart’s predecessor”. But in this case, Will Zellers is a decent offensive prospect who was drafted last summer (third round, 76th overall). Zellers is second in the USHL in scoring, first in points-per-game. But it’s the USHL and it’s always difficult to gauge a prospect who dominates at that level. Our DobberProspects scouting report on him is here.

The Avalanche receive: A solid two-way center who fills that No.3 role perfectly. Coyle brings playoff experience and playoff excellence, and with a defined role he should flourish. With Boston, he tended to bounce around from the first to third lines as needed. Behind Nathan MacKinnon and newly-acquired Brock Nelson, Coyle should fit like a glove.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Any time a struggling player gets a fresh start, it’s a good thing. And Mittelstadt still hasn’t truly hit his prime yet, or he only just started to hit it. Odds are, he won’t be lining up with Pastrnak. Pavel Zacha is doing well there. But just being out there with Pasta on that top PP unit will help. Any chance to show chemistry with Pasta is a chance that he stopped having with Colorado (he burned through those chances with the Avs by this point). So while it’s a bit of a long shot – it’s still a “shot”. I doubt he could do any worse.

In a secondary role, assuming that the Geekie – Zacha – Pastrnak line remains intact, Mittelstadt will likely take Coyle’s spot alongside Lindholm and (insert rotating name here). Youngster Matt Poitras will remain on the fourth line for now.

Fantasy players this helps, in order:

Mittelstadt

Fantasy players this hurts, in order:

Coyle

Poitras