The 2023 NHL Entry Draft is rapidly approaching, and it’s time to look at who the Blue Jackets could pick with their second round pick (#34 overall) on Thursday, June 29.
Gavin Brindley is not your typical NHL prospect – a kid from Florida who had to work to earn his offer to the University of Michigan, he took advantage of his role. A driven player with an exceptional work ethic, Brindley made a point of doing all he could to take advantage of opportunities and get better night after night. Brindley isn’t the high end talent like his fellow Wolverine Adam Fantilli, but his compete level is off the charts.
Brindley projects as a winger at the NHL level, likely in a middle six role, but despite his smaller stature (he’s listed at 5’9″), he brings it every shift. All reports suggest “imagine Nick Blankenburg, but a forward.” You could do worse having a player like that in your lineup.
Bradly Nadeau
Position: Right Wing
Team: University of Michigan Wolverines
Date of Birth: October 5, 2004
Birthplace: Estero, FL
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 157 lbs
Shoots: Right
Rankings
Ranked #25 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #21 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #15 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #25 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #27 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #23 by THE HOCKEY NEWS
Ranked #30 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #26 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #40 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #23 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #30 by SPORTSNET
Ranked #24 by HPR/SHANE MALLOY
Ranked #22 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #13 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #27 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #9 by SMAHT SCOUTING
2022-23 Stats
Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
Games: 41
Goals: 12
Assists: 26
Points: 38
PIM: 22
Scouting Reports
Brindley is a fantastic skater as he generates great power from his slight frame going north-south and has fantastic crossovers which generates a lot of speed for him as he’s going through the neutral zone. You can tell he was a defenseman growing up in hockey as his backwards crossovers even generate power and he’s able to turn his hips and turn on a dime. His lack of strength leads him to be knocked off the puck, but his balance on his skates helps mitigate the lack of size. I think he has a tremendous offensive ceiling given his skill, skating, awareness, and motor to get to all areas of the ice. However, there are times in a game where he looks to facilitate plays low-to-high or enters the zone and hits a player outside the dangerous scoring areas where he takes the play off his own stick. He has the skill to hold onto the puck a little longer to be the driver of the primary scoring chance, but sometimes defers to his linemates if he believes they have more time/space to make the play. At the beginning of the year he didn’t have the linemates to make those plays once he gave up the puck, but as the year went on he both started to play a bit more aggressively as well as with linemates who were able to operate in the time and space he created for his teammates. – Smaht Scouting
What Brindley lacks in size, he makes up for with every other possible facet of his game, from puck battles to physical play, from his incredible compete level to an excellent skating package. He is incredibly agile with and without the puck, and has the speed to really take advantage of his opponents’ weaknesses both off the rush and while forechecking. It’s a rare sight to see Brindley standing still as he’s constantly moving and keeping the energy up for his team. He’s confident and strong enough to charge the middle of the ice and attack the net when opportunity arises, and he’s much better at protecting the puck that you would expect from a player of his size. Brindley has played up and down the lineup for the University of Michigan this year as a freshman and has settled in as one of their most heavily relied upon players. Lots of shorter players are guys whose games are based on skill, limiting their utility and adaptability in the NHL. While Brindley does have the skill to possibly end up as a top-six skill guy, he also has the skating, energy, and tenacity to be a bottom-six forward with good offense and a respectable two-way game. – The Hockey Writers