Penguins Draft Profiles: Gavin Brindley
The Pittsburgh Penguins may select one of the most talented NCAA prospects in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are poised to add their most talented prospect in years at the 2023 NHL Draft. The cloud of uncertainty remains around whether the team will stay at pick number 14 or whether they will move down or out of the first round altogether. Either way, Kyle Dubas and company need to find talent throughout the draft. One player they could target to bolster their forward depth is Gavin Brindley, out of the NCAA.
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Essentials:
2022-23 Team: University of Michigan (NCAA)
2022-23 Stats: NCAA - 41 GP, 12 G, 26 A, 38 P
U20 World Junior Championship - 7 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 4 P
Position: Forward
Shoots: Right
Height and Weight: 5’8, 160 pounds.
NHL Central Scouting: 23rd (among North American skaters)
Elite Prospects: 21st
Player Breakdown:
Playing alongside the best player in the NCAA last season and several other NHL prospects, Brindley looked like a future NHL’er in his own right. With the talented Michigan squad causing some scouts to question Brindley’s individual skillset, do not be fooled into underestimating him.
If you draft Brindley, you are selecting one of the most talented playmakers available. His creativity in the offensive zone is his number one asset. Possessing an electric set of hands and a high octane style of play, Brindley is a menace to play against. He wants to score, he wants his teammates to score, and he will do anything to help get the puck in the net. Brindley displays a creativity to match his teammates.
What also stands out about Brindley is his skating. He has elite edgework combined with straight ahead speed that outpaces a majority of the 2023 class. His hips are fluid and twitchy and he has a great first few strides, negating how little ground he can cover with his smaller frame. He is able to be the first in on the forecheck very often because he is such an excellent skater.
Brindley’s offensive game will translate seamlessly to the NHL, and he projects to be a middle six winger once established. He works hard, gets in on the puck, and loves to feed his teammates. He doesn’t quite have that “it” factor to be a building block for your franchise, but he will be an excellent complementary piece.
What Needs to Improve:
Offensively, Brindley’s main area of need is his shot. It’s a decent one and it has some zip to it, but it’s not a true threat in his arsenal. Only scoring 12 goals in his first season with the Michigan Wolverines, he’ll need to up that production significantly if he wants to round out his offensive kit.
Defensively, Brindley’s game has room for growth. No one is selecting Brindley to be a bottom six player, but his defensive zone play needs improved. Brindley’s high motor makes him a tenacious forechecker, but he needs to pair that intensity with situational awareness in his own zone in order to become a complete defensive player.
Due to his smaller stature, Brindley will need to add some weight and muscle to his frame to also be durable enough to make an impact.
NHL Player Comparison: Viktor Arvidsson
NHL ETA: 2026
Brindley will greatly benefit from another few years of seasoning in the NCAA. But with his versatile and expanding offensive toolkit and high energy style of play, Brindley projects to be a 15-25 goal scorer at the next level. As long as he can withstand the physicality of the professional ranks, there's no doubting he can become an NHL contributor.
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