Gavin Brindley next in Michigan-to-Blue Jackets pipeline: 'That's just the next step'
Gavin Brindley is not looking ahead.
Yes, the Michigan forward was selected by the Blue Jackets in the second round of the 2023 NHL draft. Yes, Brindley took the ice in Columbus Friday and Saturday, but it was as a member of the Wolverines. He led them to two wins on the road against Ohio State.
So Brindley is not focused on the future.
“You have to be where your feet are and play your game until you do (sign) your first contract, and then the second one,” Brindley said.
The Blue Jackets are keeping close tabs on Brindley. He said representatives, including director of player development Rick Nash and development coach Derek Dorsett, check in frequently.
Being former Blue Jackets players themselves, they know what Brindley needs. That's why they make him aware of aspects of his game that need improvement, while Brindley said the organization also gives him space.
“I feel like, as a player, I can play in any situation,” Brindley said. “And I feel like ... the best part of my game is, no matter where I’m playing or what line I’m on, I’m going to contribute in any way that I can. I’m never going to turn my game off.”
How Gavin Brindley has helped Michigan hockey
This approach has helped the Michigan offense tremendously.
When Brindley took the ice Friday night, he did so as the Wolverines’ second-leading goal scorer (15) and one of six players on the roster who had more than 30 points. Through Brindley’s first 23 games, Michigan held a 13-goal advantage when he was on the ice.
In two wins against Ohio State, Brindley had two assists and two blocks. He did not connect on any of his three shots.
Michigan coach Brandon Naurato called Brindley a "huge driver for our team" and a "student of the game."
"The growth is just adding on to every area because he plays all situations," Naurato said. "Is it growing offensively? Is it growing defensively? I don't think it's one thing. He's growing in all areas, but (him) just understanding how the Big Ten works or college hockey in general are helping us win games."
Brindley knows the NHL will bring its own set of challenges. He’s seen it through the perspective of Adam Fantilli, a former teammate at Michigan and a fellow member of the Blue Jackets’ 2023 draft class.
Brindley said he speaks to Fantilli “every single day” about his life in the “best hockey league in the world,” something Brindley said he will have to adjust to.
“The pace of play and the types of guys that you’re playing against every single night, it’s tough on your body,” Brindley said. “And it’s even tougher mentally.”
For Brindley, that’s the future. His present focus is on helping Michigan to its best possible Big Ten and NCAA tournament seed. But with Brindley’s present and future seeming to collide at the Schottenstein Center on Friday and Saturday, he was excited to take the briefest peek ahead at the NHL.
"I've been playing hockey for my whole life," Brindley said. "That's just the next step. So yeah, just progressing my overall game and be where I need to be for that next level."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Gavin Brindley talks Michigan-to-Columbus Blue Jackets pipeline
