One look around the Columbus Blue Jackets’ locker room on Thursday morning painted the perfect picture of who was going to be celebrated that night. Players and staff alike had the hats and shirts to prove it.
Charlie Coyle, who was acquired along with Miles Wood from the Colorado Avalanche, will play in his 1,000th NHL game on Thursday night when the Blue Jackets host the Dallas Stars at Nationwide Arena. Coyle has played games with the Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche prior to joining the Blue Jackets this season.
Anyone who has the honor of making it to 1,000 games has had to overcome a lot of things to enjoy an NHL career with some longevity. It’s no different for Coyle.
While Coyle will have some friends and family in Columbus Thursday and potentially Saturday to celebrate the occasion, the game itself is massive for the Blue Jackets. They cannot afford to let many more games slip by as they try to get back into the playoff race.
While Coyle understands the meaning of 1,000 games, he also understands that it’ll mean more with a Blue Jackets’ win. He talked about that on Thursday morning.
Coyle Reflects on 1,000 Games
“You try to honestly dumb it down a little bit because it is another big game tonight,” Coyle said. “And these things are great. I’m proud and you don’t get here alone. So it’s everyone’s getting celebrated tonight in my mind. But these nights are a lot better when you win and you have that winning feeling and can enjoy it a little more. That’s all I want and care about.”
“You don’t really know how to handle it fully, right? I don’t know. I’m not a guy who likes to be like this in the center of things as I think most hockey guys aren’t. But it’s nice of course when people are doing nice things for you and want to celebrate you. It’s the polite thing to do is to let it happen. And as much as you are uncomfortable with it, it’s a good thing. I know I’ll look back and remember these good times and these moments (and) milestones. But like we said, I just like to dumb it down and it’s another game and another big game against a good team.”
To be able to get to 1,000 games means overcoming injuries, slumps and everything the daily grind of hockey brings. Like for many others, it was the love of the game that Coyle cherishes most about his NHL career.
“There’s certain milestones that you would like to achieve and get to. I guess in my head, it just meant if I got to 1,000, I’m playing a lot of hockey games, which I love to do,” Coyle said. “I think that it starts when you’re younger and fall in love with the game. You want to play as long as possible. Then you make it to this stage and you’re happy. But you want more and you want to keep playing and prolong your career. So that’s all I’ve tried to do.”
“It’s a big milestone, but it’s another game along the way of playing more hockey, which is what I love, what we all love. So I just want to keep doing that as long as I can and these things just come along the way with it.”
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Blue Jackets’ coach Rick Bowness has coached his fair share of players over the years who had milestone games. He offered a slightly different perspective about what 1,000 games means.
“It’s a special night obviously,” Bowness said. “Listen, when players come in our league today, they want to get to Game 10, right? They’re not worried about 1,000. They just want to stay in the league for a while. Guys that reach 1,000 games, it shows their complete dedication. Because it’s not just what they’re doing on the ice, it’s what they’re doing off the ice. To look after themselves in the offseason, training and all those things come into play. They all come into play and show you how dedicated they are to the profession.”
“I’ve coached against (Coyle) his whole career. I’ve always admired the way he plays. I think he’s lone of those guys that coaches love. Low maintenance. There’s low maintenance and then there’s no maintenance and there’s high maintenance. So we like those guys down here a lot better. He would be a no maintenance guy. He just comes to play and plays the same way every night. Doesn’t matter who you’re playing against. Doesn’t matter where you’re playing. He’s going to play the exact same way. To play 1,000 games, that’s a wonderful accomplishment. There’s a lot of games. There’s a lot of travel. So for him to reach that 1,000, good for him.”
Coyle is having one of his better seasons with the Blue Jackets in recent memory. He enters play Thursday night with 10 goals and 30 points while taking on the opposition’s best lines on a nightly basis. He’s played well enough to warrant consideration for the Selke Trophy this season given to the best defensive forward.
Coyle will have ample time to celebrate his career eventually. But only one thing matters Thursday. A win against the Dallas Stars. That will make his 1,000th NHL game much more memorable.
