RW Bobby Brink - Philadelphia Flyers, NHL (2019, 34th, PHI)

[William H Bonney]

Doesn't seem like he's playing much. Is he on what would be considered the "fourth line" on this USA team? I don't see him out there often.

He was on the 3rd line and PP1 to start the tournament but was bumped down to the 4th line (and still PP1) for the last 2 games. Not really indicative of him being bad, more so that the staff inexplicably had Zegras and Kaliyev on the 4th line in those first 2 games. He's not playing a lot, but the player usage and line combinations have been head scratching thus far. Also not easy that the RW depth is really strong and he's competing against Wahlstrom, Caufield, and Kaliyev for ice time there.

Overall, he's been okay. Not having a ton of impact, but for a 2nd round pick who's only 18, he's been fine. His main issue is he's over handling the puck, which a lot of players on the team are doing.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think he’s brilliant on a PP because he’s a dual threat with passing and shooting and his skating has improved, but I don’t like his hockey IQ and he plays so weak.

 

[Northerner]

I wonder if they shouldn't have chosen someone else over him for this team. He's more of a top-6 player, been shoved into the bottom-6 slot. Maybe those who engineered this team didn't think it through as well as they should have.

 

[FlyguyOX]

I wonder if they shouldn't have chosen someone else over him for this team. He's more of a top-6 player, been shoved into the bottom-6 slot. Maybe those who engineered this team didn't think it through as well as they should have.

Idk there's already ~4 forwards with pretty low skill and average qualities. It was good to add a guy with creative offensive ability in the O-zone.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Nothing goes more hand in hand than a great PP QB and questionable hockey sense.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Nothing goes more hand in hand than a great PP QB and questionable hockey sense.

Are you saying he doesn't have questionable hockey sense? I don't think he's a PPQB and I don't know where you've ever seen him QB a PP. He's certainly not doing so for this team.

He has good offensive skills. He can make some really nice passes and has a good release with accuracy. However, that doesn't mean that he releases the puck when he should, that he processes the game around him well, that he's good at avoiding turnovers and putting himself into good scoring positions at even strength.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Are you saying he doesn't have questionable hockey sense? I don't think he's a PPQB and I don't know where you've ever seen him QB a PP. He's certainly not doing so for this team.

He has good offensive skills. He can make some really nice passes and has a good release with accuracy. However, that doesn't mean that he releases the puck when he should, that he processes the game around him well, that he's good at avoiding turnovers and putting himself into good scoring positions at even strength.

I guess you must also think Tim Stutzle isn't QBing Germany's PP. Brink wouldn't be my first choice on this team, but he's the QB on the most used PP. Call it what you want. He has the puck more than anyone.

I've just never heard anyone praised for their "brilliant" work on the PP and specifically their passing skill, and get criticized for their hockey IQ in the same breath. It's like an oxymoron.

So we have a 5'8, 160 pound winger, with shitty skating, and questionable hockey sense. It's a miracle he had maybe the best statistical season by a 17 year old USHL player in the modern era of the league and was considered a first round caliber prospect with all of that working against him.

Also, 44 non-PP points in 43 USHL games last year, which led the league. So probably not just a PP specialist.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I guess you must also think Tim Stutzle isn't QBing Germany's PP. Brink wouldn't be my first choice on this team, but he's the QB on the most used PP. Call it what you want. He has the puck more than anyone.

I've just never heard anyone praised for their "brilliant" work on the PP and specifically their passing skill, and get criticized for their hockey IQ in the same breath. It's like an oxymoron.

So we have a 5'8, 160 pound winger, with ****ty skating, and questionable hockey sense. It's a miracle he had maybe the best statistical season by a 17 year old USHL player in the modern era of the league and was considered a first round caliber prospect with all of that working against him.

Also, 44 non-PP points in 43 USHL games last year, which led the league. So probably not just a PP specialist.

Zac Jones is QB'ing the PP unit that Brink is on. I don't know how this is even debatable. The guy who stands at the point and shuffles the puck around is the PPQB. This has even been discussed on the NHL Network broadcast a few times that Jones is the PPQB.

You didn't refute anything I said about his skill-set. I didn't say he couldn't score points at ES, but I think it will be harder due to his skill-set. He'll likely score points in any league at ES and on the PP, but will probably add very little aside from that. And I think the best part of his game will be his work on the PP because the game is slower, less physical, and there's more space. That best lets him use him use his technical and creative tools to his advantage. I don't know why it's such a bad thing to call him a PP specialist, if he does become one. He's sub 5'10, he's very weak, he's not a particularly good skater, although it's improved. He was picked in the second round.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Zac Jones is QB'ing the PP unit that Brink is on. I don't know how this is even debatable. The guy who stands at the point and shuffles the puck around is the PPQB. This has even been discussed on the NHL Network broadcast a few times that Jones is the PPQB.

You didn't refute anything I said about his skill-set. I didn't say he couldn't score points at ES, but I think it will be harder due to his skill-set. He'll likely score points in any league at ES and on the PP, but will probably add very little aside from that. And I think the best part of his game will be his work on the PP because the game is slower, less physical, and there's more space. That best lets him use him use his technical and creative tools to his advantage. I don't know why it's such a bad thing to call him a PP specialist, if he does become one. He's sub 5'10, he's very weak, he's not a particularly good skater, although it's improved. He was picked in the second round.

Ahh I knew there was some kind of NYR slant. Well if Dave Starman said it, it must be true. If Jones is the PPQB, that means Seider, NOT Stutzle is QBing the German powerplay (despite what TSN told me) and that means Provorov QBs the Philadelphia powerplay and not Claude Giroux. Semantics anyway. It’s an overload setup. He has the puck more than anyone on that unit. It’s either up to Jones for a point shot, down to Robertson looking for Pinto in the bumper spot, on Brink looking for the seam pass to Pinto or Wahlstrom.

How many point producers, that produce both at ES and on the PP, who are both threats passing and shooting, aren’t high IQ players, let alone low IQ players? I would love to see that list. I’ve never once heard anyone even hint at his hockey sense being anything but a strength. I mean he’s certainly not a physical specimen so that can’t be the reason he was the most productive scorer in the USHL as a young 17 old. It certainly wasn’t his teammates. How did he lead the WJAC in scoring last year with many of the same characters with that low IQ? How can he be as productive as he has been with all of theses deficiencies. It doesn’t add up.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Ahh I knew there was some kind of NYR slant. Well if Dave Starman said it, it must be true. If Jones is the PPQB, that means Seider, NOT Stutzle is QBing the German powerplay (despite what TSN told me) and that means Provorov QBs the Philadelphia powerplay and not Claude Giroux. Semantics anyway. It’s an overload setup. He has the puck more than anyone on that unit. It’s either up to Jones for a point shot, down to Robertson looking for Pinto in the bumper spot, on Brink looking for the seam pass to Pinto or Wahlstrom.

How many point producers, that produce both at ES and on the PP, who are both threats passing and shooting, aren’t high IQ players, let alone low IQ players? I would love to see that list. I’ve never once heard anyone even hint at his hockey sense being anything but a strength. I mean he’s certainly not a physical specimen so that can’t be the reason he was the most productive scorer in the USHL as a young 17 old. It certainly wasn’t his teammates. How did he lead the WJAC in scoring last year with many of the same characters with that low IQ? How can he be as productive as he has been with all of theses deficiencies. It doesn’t add up.

No, you are the one with the bias, considering you are so opposed to my opinion. You've pushed back on everything I've said. I've been saying this about Brink since before the draft. I'm not like many of you who base opinions based on which team drafts a player.

Make a poll in the poll section to ask people who've watched the American team who the PPQB is on that unit. It'd be locked quickly because of how obvious it is. Your way to deflect from that is to bring up what team Jones was drafted why. How does that matter? What if York was on that unit? He'd be the PPQB. I have no clue why you think Brink is the PPQB. Should I start stating that Kaliyev is the PPQB on his unit?

 

[FLYguy3911]

No, you are the one with the bias, considering you are so opposed to my opinion. You've pushed back on everything I've said. I've been saying this about Brink since before the draft. I'm not like many of you who base opinions based on which team drafts a player.

Make a poll in the poll section to ask people who've watched the American team who the PPQB is on that unit. It'd be locked quickly because of how obvious it is. Your way to deflect from that is to bring up what team Jones was drafted why. How does that matter? What if York was on that unit? He'd be the PPQB. I have no clue why you think Brink is the PPQB. Should I start stating that Kaliyev is the PPQB on his unit?

Another meltdown? Over semantics that have nothing to do with the point?

My original post had nothing to do with Brink. It had everything to do with logic. It doesn't add up. You were unable to provide a list of "brilliant" PP players who had poor hockey sense. You did nothing but give general cliche responses with zero support or examples. Rather you deflect away from the point and suddenly the discussion is about who should have the arbitrary title of "QB". Can't think of a more meaningless discussion. But yeah let me make a poll so I can answer to a guy on a message board that thinks Adam Ginning and Bode Wilde are good prospects. Maybe evaluating hockey sense just isn't your thing.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Another meltdown? Over semantics that have nothing to do with the point?

My original post had nothing to do with Brink. It had everything to do with logic. It doesn't add up. You were unable to provide a list of "brilliant" PP players who had poor hockey sense. You did nothing but give general cliche responses with zero support or examples. Rather you deflect away from the point and suddenly the discussion is about who should have the arbitrary title of "QB". Can't think of a more meaningless discussion. But yeah let me make a poll so I can answer to a guy on a message board that thinks Adam Ginning and Bode Wilde are good prospects. Maybe evaluating hockey sense just isn't your thing.

You are the only one with a meltdown. Now you are making up things I didn’t say.

When did I say Ginning was good? Go find that for me. What I will say is that I think his reputation is a little unfair. Some of you criticize him too much. He may not be a good prospect, but he shouldn’t be a punching bag. Am I biased in saying that?

I actually watched Wilde play yesterday. I thought he looked pretty good for a 19 year old in the AHL. I didn’t understand why he wasn’t on the PP. Defensively, he still had a few rough moments. One shift he chased behind the net when he shouldn’t have. Another shift he had struggle finding a loose puck in front of his own net. But he looked to be playing a lot more low-risk of a defensive game. He looks to be improving, and anyone knows he’s very good offensively.

That’s the difference between me and you. You tried claiming I’m biased. If I’m complimenting the play of a player on a rival team, wouldn’t that be the exact opposite of bias? Is it possible that I don’t make judgements on players based on what team they played for? Is it possible I view Brink differently than you do? What is even your view? I think he’s a good player. You think that he’s a prospect for your team, so you need to go to bat for him against what exactly? I’m struggling to find the point in what you are trying to do. It comes off that you are arguing against me for the sake of it.

 

[phil162888]

I think you're both right to a degree. Traditionally PPQB has been the pointman on the PP (99% a Dman) i'm assuming that's why US announcer stated that Jones is the guy but in the case of the Flyers (Giroux), Leafs (Marner) and USA (Brink) the player really QBing the PP (the player that the puck is going to set up a play has been a winger). I also agree that the PPQB is not someone whom i've ever heard has poor hockey sense or at least definitely shouldn't be. Brink has some flaws but that wouldn't be one of them imo.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I also agree that the PPQB is not someone whom i've ever heard has poor hockey sense or at least definitely shouldn't be. Brink has some flaws but that wouldn't be one of them imo.

That only applies if he is the PPQB. If you reviewed the tape, I don’t think you’d find that he has the puck the majority of the time. He probably has it 4th most on that unit after Jones, Wahlstrom and Robertson.

I don’t watch enough of the Flyers to say if Giroux QB’s their PP, but I would not try to instantly apply that to another team. On most hockey teams, the QB is a defensemen.

 

[FLYguy3911]

You are the only one with a meltdown. Now you are making up things I didn’t say.

When did I say Ginning was good? Go find that for me. What I will say is that I think his reputation is a little unfair. Some of you criticize him too much. He may not be a good prospect, but he shouldn’t be a punching bag. Am I biased in saying that?

I actually watched Wilde play yesterday. I thought he looked pretty good for a 19 year old in the AHL. I didn’t understand why he wasn’t on the PP. Defensively, he still had a few rough moments. One shift he chased behind the net when he shouldn’t have. Another shift he had struggle finding a loose puck in front of his own net. But he looked to be playing a lot more low-risk of a defensive game. He looks to be improving, and anyone knows he’s very good offensively.

That’s the difference between me and you. You tried claiming I’m biased. If I’m complimenting the play of a player on a rival team, wouldn’t that be the exact opposite of bias? Is it possible that I don’t make judgements on players based on what team they played for? Is it possible I view Brink differently than you do? What is even your view? I think he’s a good player. You think that he’s a prospect for your team, so you need to go to bat for him against what exactly? I’m struggling to find the point in what you are trying to do. It comes off that you are arguing against me for the sake of it.

I think Ginning blows and has shit for brains, does that prove that I can take criticism of a Flyers' prospect?

No offense, but I don't value your opinions enough to care what you say about any prospect specifically. I've seen Brink play dozens of times. I can form my own opinion of the player. I don't even post in Flyers prospect threads anymore. It's a waste of time (as I'm finding out now). I don't even want to have a discussion about Brink specifically. To my original post, I'm trying figure out how one can be "brilliant" (see: not just good) on the powerplay, both passing and shooting, and have low hockey sense. That doesn't add up for me. In my experience, being "brilliant" on the PP and in all-situations aren't mutually exclusive items. The skills are overlapping. I can't think of anyone that is "brilliant" on the PP that doesn't have great hockey sense, let alone questionable hockey sense. If you can provide a list of such players that are "brilliant" on the PP and have questionable hockey sense, that would be great.

 

[Andrei79]

I think Ginning blows and has **** for brains, does that prove that I can take criticism of a Flyers' prospect?

No offense, but I don't value your opinions enough to care what you say about any prospect specifically. I've seen Brink play dozens of times. I can form my own opinion of the player. I don't even post in Flyers prospect threads anymore. It's a waste of time (as I'm finding out now). I don't even want to have a discussion about Brink specifically. To my original post, I'm trying figure out how one can be "brilliant" (see: not just good) on the powerplay, both passing and shooting, and have low hockey sense. That doesn't add up for me. In my experience, being "brilliant" on the PP and in all-situations aren't mutually exclusive items. The skills are overlapping. I can't think of anyone that is "brilliant" on the PP that doesn't have great hockey sense, let alone questionable hockey sense. If you can provide a list of such players that are "brilliant" on the PP and have questionable hockey sense, that would be great.

I think you're wasting your time here. Brinks main attribute his draft year, the main reason for his offense and why he elevated his line in the USHL was his hockey sense. This is an absurd conversation as far as I'm concerned, it's like talking about a completely different player by taking who he is and altogether ignoring everything that his game consists of.

How one can even be a brilliant PP QB by being a great passer/shooter, implying that he can both read passing lanes and read the play well enough to properly choose the right option, while having questionable hockey sense is even more absurd.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Once again, and this’ll be more last comment here because some on this website are disingenuous and a waste of time discussing hockey with, there’s no indication that Brink has been a PPQB anywhere in recent seasons. Facts sometimes get in the way.

 

[2Pair]

Call it whatever you like, that unit is running through Brink. Saying that Brink has poor hockey sense is a really bad take.

 

[Andrei79]

Once again, and this’ll be more last comment here because some on this website are disingenuous and a waste of time discussing hockey with, there’s no indication that Brink has been a PPQB anywhere in recent seasons. Facts sometimes get in the way.

Yeah, its other posters that are disingenous.

Not the poster who mentions he had questions about his hockey sense based on the, at most, the 5 U18 games he watched last year. A tournament where he came in on a team that played 2 years+ together and yet he still found a way to create chemistry with his linemates and produce.

This thread will only be better from people like you, who barely know anything about the player, leaving it.

 

[Andrei79]

Call it whatever you like, that unit is running through Brink. Saying that Brink has poor hockey sense is a really bad take.

That poster had barely watched Brink his draft year, yet mentions he already had concerns about his hockey sense then. Tells you all you need to know really.

 

[TB87]

His hockey sense is his calling card.

Only legit (current) weaknesses are consistent puck control when he’s skating fast and adding some extra burst to his separation speed. Both are correctable. He’s already added some burst since the summer too

 

[57special]

I thought he looked decent at the WJC. He is definitely better with the puck on his stick.

 

[Northerner]

It remains to be seen if he'll have a perennial career in NHL. There are over a hundred kids in that tournament and every single one of them wants a career in the NHL. Many top prospects. Not all of them will succeed in the NHL.

Brink is small. But Cam Atkinson is small. Only time will tell if Brink is an everyday NHLer...

 

[Tripod]

Gets off the plane, suits up for Denver and scores!

 

[TB87]

Brink’s injury last night was gnarly. Hope it isn’t a long-term injury.


Cole Smith=the reckless knee destroyer