Charlie Coyle has three goals in four preseason games and looks like a lock to be Minnesota's second-line center at the beginning of the 2013-14 campaign. "I can't say anything negative about his camp," coach Mike Yeo said of Coyle. "He's been outstanding. The challenge for him is to keep it going." He entered training camp in a competition with Mikael Granlund. Coyle may need to work on his faceoff work still, but he has enjoyed some strong showings during the preseason.

Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle are making the Minnesota Wild's decision regarding the second-line center gig very tough. Granlund and Coyle are both having strong training camps as they continue their direct competition for the same spot. Coyle might have gotten a slight edge on Saturday though after scoring a goal and winning 12 of his 15 faceoffs. "He's more comfortable, that's for sure," Mikko Koivu said in reference to Coyle. "You see that in his game. He's more confident. He's even stronger on the puck [than last season]." Coyle and Granlund will continue to get opportunities to show what they can do in the Wild's upcoming exhibition contests.

The Minnesota Wild topped the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 in a Thursday preseason game thanks to a group effort. Charlie Coyle,Matthew Dumba, Kristopher Foucault and Steven Kampfer were the Wild goal-scorers while Bryan Little was the only Jets player who found the net.

Wild coach Mike Yeo thinks Charlie Coyle has it what it takes to play center. "What I like is we all know how good he is from the top of the circles and down, but I think he's a guy that's gained a step and looked quicker and he's showing that he's got the ability to play a big ice game, too, " said Yeo. The Minnesota bench boss added that aspect is a "real important thing for him if he's going to play that center position" because he will have to be comfortable carrying the puck and be able to hand it off to his wingers. Coyle is competing for the team's second-line center spot at training camp.

Charlie Coyle and a number of other players are slated to compete for Minnesota's second-line center spot at training camp. He is salted to battle Mikael Granlund, Erik Haula, Kyle Brodziak and Dave Steckel, who is attending camp on a pro tryout. "The center position is a position where we do have a couple question marks, and bringing in a guy with Steckel's experience and his pedigree - he could potentially answer one of those questions,"coach Mike Yeo said. "We're going to try a lot of different combinations and a lot of people at different positions, and he's now in that mix." If Coyle doesn't land the center spot then he could still play in Minnesota's top-six group as a winger.

Charlie Coyle was struck in the face by a high stick on Monday. Coyle is playing through it, but he has a chipped tooth and needs a root canal. "I have a lisp now, I'm spitting in people's faces, I couldn't eat or drink on the plane because it was stinging, my eyes are watering," Coyle said with a laugh. "Not fun at all."

Charlie Coyle will not receive any supplemental discipline for his hit on Artem Anisimov Saturday. Coyle was thrown out of the game as he was given a match penalty for a hit to the head but the NHL deemed that he did not target the head and therefore will be eligible to play on Monday. Coyle has six goals and nine points in 30 games with 26 penalty minutes this season. He has some fantasy value but not in shallow or deeper pools.

Charlie Coyle's third period tip-in was the winner in the Wild's 3-1 win in Vancouver Monday. The Wild were down 1-0 when rookie Jonas Brodin tied the score on the power play in the second period before Coyle sent the Wild ahead to stay. Matt Cullen had the insurance goal and it was his 13th point in his last 13 games. Pierre-Marc Bouchard had two assists in the winning effort as the Wild are now two points up on Vancouver in divisional play.

According to sources, Charlie Coyle won't be suspended for his late hit to Calgary's Matthew Stajan in Tuesday night's game. No hearing was scheduled for the infraction which was assessed with a five-minute major for elbowing on the ice by the officials. Coyle's shoulder appeared to make contact with Stajan's chest and then his chin, which probably factored into the league's decision not to schedule a meeting.

The Wild have moved Charlie Coyle to the top line with Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise. It's a great spot for Coyle who was drafted 28th overall in the 2010 Draft. He picked up the first goal of his NHL career on Saturday and now has one goal in six NHL games. The Wild have been having trouble scoring this season but it Coyle can click with his linemates, he will be worth a pick up in most fantasy pools.