Avalanche trade Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to Columbus in salary dump

The Colorado Avalanche landed veteran center Charlie Coyle from the Boston Bruins in March.

Just about 3.5 months later, Coyle is headed out of town, along with veteran forward Miles Wood.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic first reported that Coyle had been traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a salary dump by the Avalanche. Wood has now be included in the deal as well and the team has officially announced it.

The Avs had just $1.2 million in cap space entering the day, but GM Chris MacFarland has now shedded Coyle’s $5.25 million salary for the upcoming season along with Wood’s $2.5 million salary. The move frees up a good chunk of room for Colorado. The Avs will get draft picks and a prospect from the Blue Jackets in return.

We have acquired forward Gavin Brindley, a third-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft and a conditional second-round choice in the 2027 NHL Draft from the Columbus Blue Jackets, in exchange for forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood. pic.twitter.com/ZginrPM9Z1

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 27, 2025

In 19 regular season games with Colorado after the trade from Boston, Charlie Coyle had two goals and 11 assists. In seven disappointing playoff games against the Dallas Stars, Coyle registered only one goal, zero assists and was a -4 in the +/- category.

Coyle was acquired for a package from Boston headlined by Casey Mittelstadt, who was traded from Buffalo for promising young defenseman Bowen Byram the year before. It’s safe to say these series of moves have not exactly worked for MacFarland, although the Avalanche reportedly might try to bring Byram home.

And dumping Wood’s salary, after he played in just one playoff game against the Stars, was a no-brainer. He clearly wasn’t in the team’s plans moving forward.

With Charlie Coyle out of the mix, the proven centers on Colorado’s roster are Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson and Jack Drury. We’ll see if Drury moves up to the third-line this season and what other trades the Avs make or decide to do in free agency.

Meanwhile, the first-round of the NHL Draft kicks off later tonight, with Rounds 2-7 on Saturday. Entering the day, Colorado had just two picks, and neither high ones. They were Nos. 118 and 214, so whoever MacFarland selects will be a developmental project. He now adds pick No. 77 to that list of darts to throw.

For now, Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood are out — and it could be just the first two guys of a few dominos to fall.

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