Charlie Coyle has long had the talent to be a top six player. The fact the brawny centerman is starting to believe that is helping him to excel in his new role.

Now he has the chance to be part of a dominant line with the Bruins’ two most explosive offensive wingers in David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. It’s only been a couple of games, and the B’s younger lineup lends itself to frequent change, but the line has been good so far.

At 31, Coyle just may have arrived at being the player he was meant to be. With 15-17-32 totals through 43 games, he’s on pace to top his career high of 18-38-56 totals for the 2016-17 Minnesota Wild.

Coach Jim Montgomery believes one of the reasons for its early success is the fact that Coyle, a first-round draft pick in 2010, is being less deferential to the stars around him. Montgomery pointed to his most recent goal against the New Jersey Devils on which he attacked the net and scored on a backhander as an example of that.

“The last two games it looked really good,” said Montgomery. “I just think Charlie’s in a real good place now in the middle of the season. He’s a real confident player in what he is and who he is. Now he gets there and it doesn’t matter who’s with him, he keeps playing the same way. I think if Charlie would have been in that same situation where he scored on Monday a month ago, he probably would have tried to pass that to Pasta. And now he’s not. He’s thinking, I’m just going to score it myself … I think that’s why it’s working so well. It’s own confidence in his own game.”

Confidence to play in the NHL may not have ever been that much of an issue for Coyle. But he admitted the confidence to play with some of the league’s glitterati has been an ongoing work in progress since he was a young player in the league.

“I think the more you play in this league and realize what you do well and how you’re going to play as best as you can for the team is just by playing your game,” said Coyle. “I came into the league pretty much playing with Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu for a good chunk of games. And I was scared beyond belief. Actually, I was scared more in practice than I was in games, screwing up practice, messing up passes. That’s when I was most nervous. But you feel like, I’ve got to give it these guys. I’ve got to get the puck and give it to them. And a lot of my game is just hanging onto the puck and winning battles and bouncing off guys and then making plays off that. That’s when I’m playing my best. And there’s a time and a place and every situation is different and who you’re playing. I know those guys like the puck, too, but I think we’re all capable of hanging onto it and making plays … I think it’s good when you have a line that has that, that has the capabilities of hanging on to the puck and make plays, and any one of us can.”

Scoring goals, which Coyle’s doing at the best rate of his career, never hurts the mindset, either.

“The puck’s going in a little more for me personally, so you have the confidence like, ‘Hey, I can score.’ Just that little stuff, it helps,” said Coyle. “You think every player who plays in the NHL is just confident beyond belief, and that’s just not the case. We’ve still got to figure that out and work on that, too. It’s like being in the gym, working on your fitness. You’ve got to work up here, too, (pointing to his head). And that’s something I continue to work on and something I’ve found is way more important than in the past. Just the mental game of it and having the confidence to do things.”

Coyle has taken advantage of the sports psychology professionals that the Bruins offer, like Dr. Stephen Durant.

“He’s always available and he’s great to have in your corner,” said Coyle. “I’ve talked to him a little bit this year, we’ve gone over some stuff. Just some small talks. Sometimes all it takes is to talk quick and maybe it triggers something. Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe not. But I don’t think it’s coincidence. But I’ve done my fair share of working on that side of the game, too.”

And with the loss of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, it has forced Coyle out of his comfort zone. Somebody had to step up, and he and Zacha were the two most logical candidates.

“Sometimes I think when you’re behind in the depth chart like that, I was third line and that’s where I was and that’s where I tried to play my best at that position. So you get accustomed to that,” said Coyle. “Those two spots are open, now I’ve moved up. It’s not like you’re more free, it’s that you’ve got to rise to that occasion now.”

So far, Coyle’s done just that.

Loose pucks

Brandon Carlo (upper body), Matt Poitras (shoulder), Linus Ullmark (lower body) and Derek Forbort (groin) all returned to practice without any limitations. Montgomery couldn’t say whether any of them would play against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday at the Garden, but he did say only Forbort would not be an option…

Trent Frederic did not practice but Montgomery said it was “precautionary” and there’s hope he’ll play on Thursday.