Charlie Coyle Leaves BU

Boston University forward Charlie Coyle will be leaving the school for Saint John of the QMJHL. Via a text message to the Boston Free Press Coyle said that he was not failing out of school but that he “was done with being a student-athlete and I want to focus on just hockey.”

Whether that’s true or not, Coyle leaving once the first semester is over sure is curious timing (especially with the report that he would indeed be named academically ineligible). Also curious is his decision to head to the Q vs. signing with the Wild and playing in the AHL. Though I have no qualms with him deciding he’s done with school, as he certainly has an NHL future, he’s certainly too good for the QMJHL right now and probably needs to test himself against professionals.

The Minnesota Wild(s) blog First Round Bust has Coyle ranked second among Wild(s) prospects. Coyle was the 2010-11 Hockey East Rookie of the year and is a lock to make the United States team for this year’s World Juniors, which starts in 10 days.