An injury played a role in Gavin Brindley’s disappointing first season as a professional hockey player. He’s determined to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
Brindley will return to the lineup Thursday night for the Colorado Avalanche against the Florida Panthers at Ball Arena. The 21-year-old forward has missed the past 10 games with a lower-body injury, which he alluded to being a torn muscle.
“I feel good,” Brindley said. “Pretty much back to normal now. Excited to get out there. It’s been a while.
“It’s been good just to watch games from above and kind of learn a couple of things. I’m excited to get back out there finish what I started.”
Brindley starred at the University of Michigan for two seasons, including Big 10 player of the year honors as a sophomore. The start to his first season with the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate for the Columbus Blue Jackets, was delayed until late November because of a broken hand sustained in an Oct. 1, 2024 preseason game against St. Louis.
Things started well, with four points in his first three games, but a long season ensued. Brindley, a dynamic offensive player at every level he’s played, finished his rookie AHL campaign with six goals and 17 points in 52 games. It included a closing stretch with one goal in his final 33 games.
This season started very differently. Brindley was a breakout player during Avs training camp. Not only did he earn a spot on the Colorado roster, he quickly became a key depth guy for the Avalanche.
Brindley had four goals and seven points in 18 games, and earned promotions to both the second line and the second power-play unit when Valeri Nichushkin was injured. He also signed a two-year contract extension.
Then he got hit behind the net Nov. 20 against the New York Rangers and was back in injury purgatory again with the lower-body issue.
“I broke a bone in my hand, like I shattered my hand (last season),” Brindley said. “It’s a little bit different than tearing a muscle. It obviously stinks getting hurt. It’s not something you wish happened to anyone, but unfortunately that’s the business we’re in. It happens sometimes, and it’s just all about how you bounce back.”
Brindley will draw back into the lineup and likely return to his original role on the fourth line next to Parker Kelly and Joel Kiviranta. He has his experiences from a year ago to fall back on and learn from. He also has a new level of confidence. He wasn’t sure how his first pro season was going to go in the AHL, and then he had to sit around and wait to find out.
This time, he’s already proven he can be a consistent everyday player for the best team in the NHL. His coach is certainly not worried.
“I actually think he’s going to come back and be really good,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Young guy, he’s going to bounce back quick. He’s pretty disciplined in his approach to the game.”
FOOTNOTES: Logan O’Connor’s extended absence from offseason hip surgery still does not have a return date. O’Connor was expected to be back in early November after a second hip surgery in as many years. Bednar said a new issue popped up during his rehab process, but it’s now at least a month missed beyond the original timeline.
With Brindley returning, O’Connor is the only player currently injured for the Avs. This is the closest they have been to full strength all season.
“There is, but I don’t have anything to share yet,” Bednar said when asked about an update. “We’re hoping that we’re getting some good information right now on how to get him back playing, but I’m going to wait on that until we are 100% sure.”
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