A simple question led to a quick answer more often than not.

We asked Bruins players which of their teammates is primed for a breakout season. Some players, especially the leadership core, gave a typical answer. They want the whole team to overachieve. “I’d like to see everyone have a good year,” Patrice Bergeron said.

But we found one certain player stood out the most, even though some Bruins had to take a quick look around the room at the locker nameplates before giving an answer.

Zdeno Chara

“When you say ‘primed,’ you mean somebody that will jump out of his usual? Chris Wagner. Also, Charlie Coyle. I’ll go with these two guys because it’ll be Charlie’s first full season (in Boston) and Chris is having a really good preseason so far. Those two guys have been standing out most to me.”

Patrice Bergeron

“Chuckie (Coyle) looks really good. I haven’t seen any of the away (preseason) games, so it’s hard for me to tell, but he looks really good in practice.”

Torey Krug

“Myself (laughs). I like the way Cliffy (Connor Clifton) looks right now. I think he’s extremely assertive, skating really well, confident and I think after the experience he had last season he can really take off. We all trust him in every situation now and the coaches do, too. Playing on the big stage in every situation, we can see him take off, for sure.”

Danton Heinen

“Just from watching him in camp, I think Charlie Coyle looks good. He looks strong. He looks skilled. He looks like he’s in midseason form already. I think the sky is the limit for that guy.”

Matt Grzelcyk

“It’s pretty early to tell. I think a lot of guys have … not, surprised me, but you never know how you’re going to react after a long season like (last year). And I think everyone is starting to get back to their game now. I was talking to some of the guys, and I think (David Pastrnak) looks really good right now. Obviously, he’s going to have a breakout year every season, but he looks really good in practice. Look who he plays with and he gets to learn from some of the best. He looks determined out there, for sure. He’s not cheating the game to play only offense. As a defenseman, it’s huge for us to have that extra guy back so we can play more aggressive. He’s definitely playing a 200-foot game.”

Steven Kampfer

“It’s tough. Based on watching guys, and you can go with the easy bet and say (Brad Marchand) because he works so hard in practice and he’s battling. I think Coyle looks really good — really good. He’s a man on a mission, so you can bet on him.”

Brad Marchand

“(Coyle’s) a great player. He’s dialed in this year. He looks incredible. From the first day of camp until now, he’s been by far the best player. He’s just dominating in every area right now.”

Jake DeBrusk

“It’s hard to say, to be honest. It’s kind of hard to get a read during preseason, or training camp, but if I had to pick one guy I’d have to say … I’ll go with two guys. I’ll go with (Coyle) and Cliff Nation (Clifton). They’ve been pretty solid. With Charlie, it’s his first camp with us and he’s so strong on pucks and it translates into the regular season, and Cliffy Hockey is just Cliffy Hockey, man.”

Brandon Carlo

“A guy that I think has looked really good is Charlie Coyle, especially through training camp. The guy’s a beast. He’s hard to play against. I was really impressed with his game since the moment he came in with us last year after the trade, and I think he’s going to continue to build off of that. He’s a guy who can take it to the next level.”

Charlie McAvoy

“The one guy who has looked particularly well is Charlie Coyle. He’s been looking great in practice and obviously just the person he is and is such a great guy. He’s an unbelievable teammate and he’s an easy guy to root for and wish a ton of success for. He means a heck of a lot to our team. He’s been looking great and we’re excited to see how he can help us in 82 games this year.”

David Pastrnak

“Yeah, 100 percent (Coyle’s) looking amazing right now. He’s having a great camp and obviously we didn’t see him last season at the beginning, but he looks like he’s ready to go, and hopefully, he can keep it up. It’s not easy to take the puck away from him right now.”

Tuukka Rask

“I don’t know. I don’t follow. I’m just trying to get myself in shape. I really haven’t looked that much. I’m the wrong guy to ask. Sorry.”

OK, so we’ll leave the goaltender out of it next time. But let’s count the votes. Eleven players polled (not including the goaltender). The results:

Coyle: 8

Clifton: 1.5

Pastrnak: 1

Wagner: 0.5

Winner: Charlie Coyle

His teammates believe a full season with the Bruins will serve Coyle’s game well, since he arrived in Boston at the trade deadline last February. Coach Bruce Cassidy thinks Coyle will benefit from knowing he’ll serve as the regular third-line center. Sure, there will be times when he’s moved up to the second line to play on David Krejci’s right side, but Coyle will have success in his role in the bottom six.

“Charlie does respond better to that,” Cassidy said. “We can certainly move him around, but he knows where he is right off the bat. He’ll have to develop chemistry (with his new linemates) and he’ll grow his game by being in the same spot, playing with confidence, knowing where he fits into the team. And we’ll encourage him to bring out those offensive instincts by attacking more off cycles and shooting more.”

So the expectations are firmly put upon him.

Who does Coyle think will break out this season?

“I hope everyone,” Coyle said. “That would be ideal. It’s hard to put one guy out there because you want everyone to play well. You want everyone to mesh as a team. Hopefully, a young guy can come in and earn a spot and that’s what we need, young guys coming up and pushing each other.”

(Photo of Coyle: Fred Kfoury III / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)