Coyle moves to center to punch up Wild offense

Mike Yeo doesn't like to get caught up in labels. The Wild coach didn't want to brand his newly minted trio of Thomas Vanek, Charlie Coyle and Jason Zucker as the team's third line, preferring to view it in more general terms.

His intent in moving Coyle from wing to center — and slotting him between two teammates who can score — was to create another line that can punch up the Wild's offense. The three practiced together Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center before the team traveled to the East Coast, where it begins a three-game road trip Thursday at Philadelphia. Rather than identifying clear-cut first, second and third lines, Yeo said he wanted to assemble three groups with similar scoring potential — a gambit that could give his team sorely needed firepower against the Flyers, Tampa Bay and Florida.

In nine road games, the Wild has scored a paltry 17 goals. That is less than half its average output at home, where it has 32 goals in eight games. In five of those road games, it has scored no more than one goal.

Yeo chose to shift Coyle to center based on his play at the position last season, when he combined with Zucker and Dany Heatley on a productive line after Mikko Koivu was injured in January. He is hoping Coyle and Zucker can work similar magic with Vanek, who still is searching for his lost scoring touch.

"We want three lines we can really count on to go out and bring offense to us, and we think this gives us the opportunity,'' Yeo said. "When we lost Mikko [last season], it was kind of a critical point of the season, and we got Charlie going in the middle. His speed and skill through the middle of the ice, in addition to his size, was a real factor.

"We wanted an offensive dynamic. Looking back at what [Zucker] and Charlie did for us together on a line with [Heatley] last year at that time, we're hoping we can get some of that again.''

Coyle said Wednesday that he, Vanek and Zucker already are developing a rapport, and he is excited to move back to center. While Coyle professes no clear preference for either position, he enjoys the free-skating nature of being in the middle. He sees good potential in his new combination with Vanek, a gifted playmaker, and the speedy Zucker.

"I went through this last year,'' said Coyle, who has two goals and seven assists in 17 games. "You can't really focus on goals. You've got to play to your strengths and what you're good at, and for me, that's my physical play. I have to get back to playing good defensively and being a physical force out there. Then I think the other stuff will come.''

Yeo placed some blame for that drought on the fact that Coyle has frequently moved around in the lineup. He said that has happened because of Coyle's ability to elevate the players around him, not because of any shortcomings. At least in the short term, Yeo wants to make Coyle the center of attention.

"I think it's time to focus a little bit on Charlie and give him a chance to get settled,'' Yeo said. "That's not to say we'll stay this way, but we want to give him that opportunity.''

• Defenseman Jonas Brodin, who is believed to have mumps, still is exhibiting symptoms and will not travel to Philadelphia. Yeo said Brodin could join the road trip later, but only if he is completely recovered. He is the fourth Wild player sidelined by the illness. "If it's one, two, three games we have to keep him away and make sure nobody else gets this, and make sure we completely get rid of it, that's what we'll do,'' Yeo said. "We can't wait to get him back. He's such a huge part of our team. But that said, let's just make sure we end this [wave of illness] for good.''