With the Colorado Avalanche, the main stars of the show are Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. However, a new young star has made his presence known and he is making big plays. Forward Gavin Brindley is in his first year with the Colorado Avalanche but he is already fitting in nicely. A player with relentless energy, he is showing that he can be a reliable bottom-six player who shows up in big games. While he is still young, he is proving he belongs in Colorado.
Where he started in the NHL
Brindley was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 34th pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. While he showed glimpses of greatness, a crucial move by the Blue Jackets gave Brindley a new home and a new chance to prove himself. He was traded along with a third-round pick in 2025 and a second-round pick to the Avalanche for forwards Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle. Colorado immediately signed him to a two-year deal and the trade paid off.
How it is going for Brindley, Avalanche
Brindley has been a star in the bottom-six but he has second-line potential. In 18 games with Colorado, he has four goals and three assists for seven points, is a +3, and has 18 hits. He has two goals and one assists for three points in his last five games and has three goals and three assists for six points in five on five action.
He has been impressive in only a few Avalanche games and he has high hopes that he can continue his solid play and put Colorado on top of the division to stay. While he is only 21 years old and 5-foot-8 and 173 pounds, Brindley is not showing signs of being relatively new to the league.
He will not get the attention of a Matthew Schaefer or Ivan Demidov but he has shown he fits into a lineup filled with talent and he has produced offensively. A relatively small price to pay for a player of his talents and the expectations for his future with this team. he could end up being a big piece that plays a huge role down the stretch and in the playoffs. A good trade to get them younger and more scoring in the middle of the lineup.