Gavin Brindley’s hard work and exceptional play have paid off. He signed a two-year deal worth $1.75 million with the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday morning. He is in the last year of his entry-level three-year, $2.85 million contract, according to Puckpedia.
“Excited to be a part of this group and some pretty elite players in here and a lot of very good guys,” Brindley said. “We’ve had a lot of fun so far, and hopefully we can keep it going.”
The 21-year-old forward has five points in 14 games, including an overtime game-winner against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night.
“He’s a young guy. He’s still developing his game. We’ve seen nothing but good from him. He was great in training camp, and he was good in exhibition, and he’s been really good for us in regular season too,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “Does a little bit (of) everything. Has great skill, a great motor. He’s relentless. Fits the Avs identity. It’s a great signing, and super happy to have him locked up for another couple years. The sky’s the limit for him.”
At 5-foot-8, 173 pounds, Brindley is a small player in the big league. But he has earned his spot with speed, skill and more.
“He can be a top-six forward in this league. He plays bigger than his size — the motor, the relentlessness, the skill level and the brain to go with it, is all there …,” Bednar said. “We’ll keep trying to move him up when he’s really going or when other guys are struggling. If not, then he just makes our team deeper and more dangerous offensively while he’s playing in the bottom six.”
Brindley was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 (2nd round, 34th overall). He only played one NHL game with the team before he joined the Avs as part of the Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle trade on June 27. He played two seasons at the University of Michigan, where he racked up 91 points (37G, 54A) in 81 games and earned the Big Ten Player of the Year.
He has been playing with Parker Kelly and Zakhar Bardakov on the fourth line, as well as both the penalty-kill and power-play units. His average time on ice is 8:58, and he is a plus-2.
His linemate, Kelly, was unaware of his contract when the Avs beat writers asked him about it after morning skate.
“He got a two-year extension? No way! I didn’t even see it. Unreal. Super happy for him. Wow, that’s awesome. He’s deserved it. He came into camp, did really well, made his presence known, and he’s been playing the right way. He’s got great details to his game, and he’s been helping me out too. Super skilled with the puck as well. He’s been making plays.
“He’s a great player. He’s been great for our line. I feel super lucky to be able to play with him. I’ve been watching him play, and it’s been teaching myself as well. I can hang on to pucks too and try to make plays just like he does. So he’s been great, especially once we get in the offensive zone, just super skilled and sees the ice very well,” Kelly said.
The Fort Myers, Florida native grew up in the small community of Estero. For him, it’s an honor to represent a state where few NHL players have come from.
“Some Canadian blood in me, but being from Florida, it’s pretty cool, and obviously a non-traditional hockey market. It’s just cool to be a role model for those kids down there. And it’s growing like crazy. A lot of ex-players are moving down there, so it’s pretty cool to have that kind of thing to look up to, for young kids, and know that they could do it. Very fortunate,” Brindley said.
