BU's Coyle Traded for Harvard's Donato

Two Boston-based former NCAA centers were exchanged by their respective NHL teams earlier this week. The Minnesota Wild traded Charlie Coyle (Boston University) to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, in return for Ryan Donato (Harvard) and a fifth-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Originally drafted 28th overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2010, Coyle had spent his entire NHL career with the Wild. Through 479 career NHL regular-season games with Minnesota, he has posted 91 goals and 151 assists for 246 points. A native of East Weymouth, Mass., the 6-foot-3, 220-pound forward played in 53 games with BU from 2010 to late 2011, and recorded 10-30—40 points in 57 outings with the Terriers. He then joined Saint John (QMJHL) in 2012 and put up 38 points in 23 games, along with 34 points in 23 postseason contests, before turning pro that fall with Houston (AHL). 

Donato, 22, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and a U.S. Olympian in 2017-18, made his NHL debut last spring with the Bruins shortly after finishing his third and final campaign at Harvard. He registered five goals and nine points in his first 12 regular-season appearances with the Bruins, who drafted him 56th overall in 2014, and split this season between his native Boston and Providence (AHL). In 47 career NHL outings, he has tallied 11-9—20 points, after recording 60-44—104 points in 97 career games with Harvard after prepping at the Dexter School, and in junior hockey with both South Shore (USPHL) and Omaha (USHL). As a sophomore in 2016-17, the six-foot, 193-pound Donato also helped the Crimson to both an ECAC Hockey League championship and an NCAA Frozen Four berth.