DALLAS – Ask anybody about Charlie Coyle, and the same two things are uttered consistently:
1) "He can do it all," said Florida Panthers coach Gerard Gallant, Coyle's junior coach for half a season when he became playoff MVP while helping lead Saint John to a Quebec League championship, and 2) "He's such a nice guy," said Panthers rising star Jonathan Huberdeau, Coyle's Saint John linemate.
So here's the question: Since Coyle's toolbox is apparently full, is it possible he's too nice? Spend two minutes shooting the breeze with the Wild's big multi-positional forward, it's clear he doesn't have a chip on his shoulder. Yet, that's the way the Wild wants — and needs — him to play on the ice.
The Wild badly wants him to alter that off-ice personality and develop into an on-ice physical force. The team believes in him so much, it took a leap of faith by signing Coyle to a five-year, $16 million extension five weeks ago.
Gallant thinks the investment is worth it, saying: "Charlie is a good all-around player who is a big, strong guy. Not many guys come into the league like he does who's a young player and a real good defensive shutdown guy. I think he's going to be a 25-, 30-goal scorer in the league for sure when he gets confidence scoring goals because he can skate, he can shoot, he can do it all.
"I think he'll be a real elite player."
But even Gallant says you just wish Coyle had a little "more Rick Tocchet in him." The Wild doesn't want Coyle to drop the gloves every other night and play borderline dirty the way Tocchet did during a terrific career. But it wouldn't mind the offensive production. It wouldn't mind the mean streak. And it wouldn't mind defensemen despising every time Coyle comes in their vicinity.
Think David Backes, the former Spring Lake Park star. How many times does the Wild play the St. Louis Blues where Backes clobbers Wild defensemen, gets under Wild player's skin and frankly makes Wild fans go bonkers because, frankly, he's so downright mean?