Carlo and Coyle had been teammates with the Bruins since 2019 before being traded earlier this month.

You couldn't wipe the smile off Colorado Avalanche forward Charlie Coyle's face on Wednesday morning when he looked back on playing with former teammate Brandon Carlo.

Coyle and Carlo each went their separate ways as the NHL trade deadline ended on Mar. 7. Coyle, a Bruins player for six years, was traded to Colorado while Carlo, a Boston second-round pick in 2015, was shipped to the Maple Leafs.

Report: Maple Leafs Acquire Bruins Defenseman Brandon Carlo As NHL Trade Deadline Winds Down After nine seasons with the Boston Bruins, Carlo reportedly joins the Maple Leafs via trade.

Both players, now former teammates, went through almost everything while on the Bruins, from losing in the first round of the playoffs to going to the Stanley Cup final in 2019.

Carlo and Coyle have already played against each other once with their new teams — one day after the trade deadline, which Colorado won 7-4 — but will face off again on Wednesday night in Toronto.

Coyle spoke glowingly about his former Bruins teammate ahead of their second matchup as enemies.

"Everyone loves him. You can't not like him. He's a big presence. He's just a good, good person. That's what I'll miss (about) playing with him most. Yeah he's a great player on the ice, but just his personality, getting to know him, he makes guys feel comfortable coming in," Coyle said.

"He's been a leader of [the Bruins] for years. Those guys are just so valuable. I know they're going to miss him. I know they already do miss him. Just his presence and of course what he brings on the ice, but the off the ice stuff is maybe even more important in what he brings because he's just such a good teammate and person."

The 33-year-old reminisced about Carlo's openness with Boston, saying the defenseman always made time for everyone around him. Coyle also lauded him as, "just a normal dude," who was the same person no matter when you were with him.

"It's just all the little things that he does, and he does them consistently. And that's what makes him who he is. He's not a person that goes above and beyond when the camera's on, he's that way, how he is, every single day to every person. He gives everyone the time of day no matter who you are," Coyle said.

"And you like playing with those guys, cheering for those guys, and you wish all those guys success. But that's just how he is, 24/7. Every day. You know what you're going to get when you see Brandon Carlo, and you love what you're going to get because he's such a good dude."

Carlo has appeared in every game with Toronto since joining the team. He's registered one assist while averaging 19:20 of ice time through five games, also getting time on the team's penalty kill.

He'll be in Toronto for two more seasons after this one, and with what Coyle is saying about him, it appears the Maple Leafs have a very important player for years to come in Carlo.

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.