Here is the press release from the Wild:

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled forward Charlie Coyle from the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL) and placed defenseman Jared Spurgeon on Injured Reserve.

Coyle, 20 (3/2/92), has collected 24 points (14-10=24) including five power-play goals and 22 penalty minutes (PIM) in 44 games with Houston during his first season of professional hockey. He ranks second on the team in goals and tied for third in scoring. The 6-foot-2, 222-pound native of East Weymouth, Mass., notched 14 points (3-11=14) in 16 games with Boston University last season before finishing the season with Saint John in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) where he recorded 38 points (15-23=38) and a plus-23 rating in 23 games. Coyle added 34 points (15-19=34) in 17 playoff games and earned the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs as the Sea Dogs won the QMJHL playoff title. He also tallied five points (4-1=5) in six games for the United States at the 2012 World Junior Championship.

Coyle tallied 26 points (7-19=26) in 37 games with Boston University in 2010-11 and was named the Hockey East Rookie of the Year. He recorded six points (2-4=6) in six games to help the United States win a bronze medal at 2011 World Junior Championship. Coyle was acquired by Minnesota from San Jose along with Devin Setoguchi and a 2011 first-round draft selection (Zack Phillips) in exchange for Brent Burns and a 2012 second-round pick on the first day of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul on June 24, 2011. He will wear jersey #63 with Minnesota.

Spurgeon has missed the last five games with a lower-body injured suffered against Nashville on Jan. 22.

Personally, I have always liked Coyle ahead of Zucker. Both were drafted in 2010. Coyle was 28th overall. Zucker, 59th.

Last season, Coyle had 38 points (15 goals and 23 assists) in 23 games with 8 penalty minutes and had 34 points (15 goals and 19 assists) in 17 playoff games and was named the MVP of the playoffs (basically, 30 goals and 42 assists [72 points] in 40 games). As for Zucker, last season, he had 46 points (22 goals and 24 assists) in 38 games with 38 penalty minutes for Denver University before being called up to the Wild where he produced 2 assists and 2 penalty minutes in 6 games with zero goals. DU did not make the playoffs last year.

Seriously folks, 72 points in 40 games? With those kinds of stats, Coyle should be the first call-up (no offense to Zucker). Also, Zucker already had an opportunity last year with the Wild so I'm totally in favor of Coyle getting the call. Remember, Coyle was reportedly the best player in the Minnesota-San Jose dealings when we sent Burns and Havlat to the Sharks. However, Charlie should know that that was last year and that was the QMJHL. This is the big show and Wild fans will be looking to see what you can do at the highest level or else.......Zucker is chomping at your heels for chance to prove his mettle with the Wild in the NHL. No pressure there!

Thoughts?

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