C Gavin Brindley - University of Michigan, NCAA (2023, 34th, CBJ)

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Really talented center. Reminds me a lot of Marco Rossi. He’s under-sized (5’8). This will be a big obstacle to him sticking at center, but he works really hard, is strong for his size and age, skates pretty well, excellent hockey sense, and he’s very good offensively. I don’t know if his skating or offense is elite for his size at the position, and if he doesn’t get bigger he may have to move off the position, but he easily looks like an early first round pick. 2023 draft-eligible, so he has some time to develop his game further. Really impressive player though already in the USHL.

Gavin Brindley at eliteprospects.com

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[goavsblue8]

Committed to guess where…………..





Michigan

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He’s now listed at 5’9, so he’s growing. He’s still only 16. His size may end up not being a problem. His father is listed at 5’10. He’s a former career minor leaguer that accumulated a lot of penalty minutes. I see where Brindley got his on-ice competitiveness.

He has 5 points in his first 3 games of the season. I think he’ll have a big season and be one of the best forwards in the league. I think his draft range is right around what it was for Rossi. Somewhere around 10. This guy isn’t getting enough talk. He’s a very good player.

 

[Dread Clawz]

His hockey sense is exceptional. He looks really small and fragile though. He's really gonna have to beef up.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

One of the few instances where the fill in is better than half of the NTDP players. He had an assist in his first game tonight as a fill-in.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

My notes after watching Brindley this season.

Brindley: I’m going to still use the Marco Rossi comparison. I really like Brindley’s game. Even if he’s not going to stick at center (probably about 5’9 with a reckless style of play and not elite skating), he’s going to be a good player. He’s pretty good offensively with a combination of passing, shooting, and stick-handling. He he has a great motor, has good hockey sense, and plays in all situations. He also isn’t afraid to go to the net. I can’t see how he’s not a first round pick type of player. May end up a mid-first round pick.

 

[QJL]

Is he playing at Michigan this year or deferring? Another year in the USHL?

 

[Lavar Ball]

First NCAA goal

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

5 points in 3 games.

I don’t know what to do with some of these stat totals.

Michigan is ridiculous. I think it’ll actually be hard for Brindley to not score close to, at, or above 1PPG this season. That’ll almost certainly be better than Charlie Stramel, who plays for a weak Wisconsin team, but is also a lot better than Brindley.

I guess it can’t be a bad thing for the Michigan kids that the team will score so many goals, but it may make it a little difficult to assess their seasons.

 

[BKarchitect]

5 points in 3 games.

I don’t know what to do with some of these stat totals.

Michigan is ridiculous. I think it’ll actually be hard for Brindley to not score close to, at, or above 1PPG this season. That’ll almost certainly be better than Charlie Stramel, who plays for a weak Wisconsin team, but is also a lot better than Brindley.

I guess it can’t be a bad thing for the Michigan kids that the team will score so many goals, but it may make it a little difficult to assess their seasons.

And Nazar isn't even playing yet. And I think outside of Fantilli he's probably going to be the best college player of all of them.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

I have a lot of respect for Brindley’s game. He is a good skater, really good hands in tight, and great motor. He willingly engages in board battles and goes to the hard areas despite a clear disadvantage of size. They actually had him playing center for most of the game tonight (despite the fact he is definitely not a center) and he plays in all situations.

He’s a talented winger but man he is small. He’s listed at 5’9”, but I think that’s a bit generous. Seeing him play in person today, he really looked like a boy against men which, to be fair, essentially he was.

Tough to determine if he’s a 1st round pick or not at this point but I’m a big fan of him. He’s extremely hard working and has talent.

 

[Lavar Ball]

2 assists against Harvard today

 

[Lavar Ball]

Goal and an assist against Minnesota

 

[MichaelFarrell]

Goal and an assist against Minnesota

This assist on the Fantilli goal is the perfect representation of why I rank Brindley so high. I was going nuts when I saw this goal last night.

He wins the board battle and then he is so patient with the puck. He doesn’t just shoot it towards the net. He baits two defending players towards him and creates a wide open lane to Fantilli. What a play. I love this guy.

 

[BigToe]

4 points through 2 periods right now. Probably the best I’ve seen him play this season.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Fantastic little utility player, totally worth a mid first round pick.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Fantastic little utility player, totally worth a mid first round pick.

In past drafts.. I don't think he's one of the best 32 prospects this year.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

In past drafts.. I don't think he's one of the best 32 prospects this year.

I disagree, to me Brindley is someone whose production is finally catching up to his play. No doubt he will fall to the late first round or second, but I think his value on an NHL roster can surpass that positioning when everything falls into place.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

If you don’t think Brindley is a one of the top talents in this draft I don’t know what to tell you. He can do it all. If he was 1” taller he’d be seen as a top 10 pick. He makes Fantilli a better player as well.

If my team was to pass on Brindley in the mid first I’d be really pissed.

 

[Goldenhands]

Brindley vs Benson is a legit debate to have. Brindley is no longer a dark horse prospect, kid is a lock top 20 prospect for this draft and there is more value in drafting Brindley mid 1st than picking Benson too early IMO.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

A bomb of a shot tonight.

 

[95snipes]

Brindley vs Benson is a legit debate to have. Brindley is no longer a dark horse prospect, kid is a lock top 20 prospect for this draft and there is more value in drafting Brindley mid 1st than picking Benson too early IMO.

Brindley's grown on me, but I don't think that's a debate at all. For me, Benson projects as a bona fide first liner in the Marner tier. I see Brindley as a middle six forward or top six complimentary player.

 

[Goldenhands]

Brindley's grown on me, but I don't think that's a debate at all. For me, Benson projects as a bona fide first liner in the Marner tier. I see Brindley as a middle six forward or top six complimentary player.

I dont think Benson is a Marner level skater though. His skating lacks explosiveness for a bantamweight player, skating still is above average, but he moves more like Caufield than Marner IMO. Brindley's offensive talent is pretty underrated, both have high end IQ.

 

[NickH8]

A bomb of a shot tonight.

Brindley's only weakness (other than size) has been his finishing ability. If he starts consistently finding the back of the net...
This guys gotta be a top 10 pick.

 

[montreal]