Columbus Blue Jackets Select Gavin Brindley #34 Overall

After securing their future #1 center with the third overall pick in the draft, the Blue Jackets were quick to select his University of Michigan teammate with the second pick in the second round. Gavin Brindley may be undersized, but he has the potential to be a dynamic player in the NHL.

This seems like the perfect pick for the Blue Jackets in this range. They already have a terrific prospect pool – maybe the best in the entire NHL – so taking a big swing on a player like this makes a ton of sense. The Jackets can be patient with this player and let him grow and develop at his own pace, which is exactly how you need to bring along players picked in the second round.

Gavin Brindley, 5’9″, 170 pounds

University of Michigan (NCAA)

2nd round (#34 overall)

Playstyle comparisons: Martin St Louis, Tyler Johnson

NHL upside: middle six scorer

Professional ETA: 2025

That isn’t to say Brindley is a traditional “boom or bust” type of pick. In fact, I think he can be an NHL player even if his scoring doesn’t translate. He’s a tenacious player who uses his speed to go into the tough areas of the ice and win puck battles. He wins those battles by either getting underneath players and picking their pockets, or even sometimes throwing his body around, which is surprising for a player his size.

Once he has the puck, he has a knack for creating time and space, and then dishing out passes to teammates who often aren’t expecting the puck to land on their sticks. For this reason, he’s at his best when he’s playing alongside other skill players, who can make plays or get shots away off of these passes. You can see some examples here. 

With that all said, his game isn’t perfect. He’ll need to continue to develop on the defensive side of the puck, which is common with players like this. His work ethic and hockey IQ should make this a pretty easy thing to learn, and I don’t see it being an issue at any point in his career. At the very least, I think Brindley can develop into a third line or checking line winger, whose speed and tenacity makes him dangerous at even strength or on the PK.

At the top end of his potential, he could be a top-six scoring forward in the NHL. The raw talent is there, the work ethic is evident, and he’s a competitive kid who will want to make it happen. I really like this pick for the Blue Jackets because they’re not only adding more talent to the organization – Brindley brings a work ethic and terrific character. The 5th line will embrace him the moment he steps onto the ice at Nationwide Arena.