COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gavin Brindley and Adam Fantilli have been waiting to share the ice in an NHL game for years, particularly since the pair were drafted by the same team after completing their freshman year of college.
The plan changed when Brindley was traded in June, but they’re going to get that chance Thursday night at Nationwide Arena. Brindley’s sixth career NHL game is going to come against Fantilli and the franchise that drafted him — the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“I wasn’t here very long, but it’s a lot of familiar faces and good to get back in the city,” Brindley said after practicing Wednesday with his new team, the Colorado Avalanche, in his old town. “I liked it a lot here. Pretty cool city, passionate fans.
“I saw a couple of guys last night and will get to hang out with them a bit today. A lot of great people over there, great guys who took me under their wings. I’m really thankful for that. I know Adam really likes it over there. Happy for him.”
Fantilli was the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL draft after a stellar freshman season at Michigan. Columbus went back to Ann Arbor for its second-round selection, choosing Brindley at No. 34.
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While Fantilli has spent the past two seasons playing in the NHL, Brindley has been working to join him. He was the player of the year in the Big Ten as a sophomore after Fantilli, Luke Hughes and Mackie Samoskevich moved on to pro hockey.
Brindley made his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets at the end of that season after signing his entry-level contract, but Fantilli was injured and not in the lineup. Last year, Brindley spent his first pro season with Cleveland in the AHL.
His path to the NHL changed over the summer when the Avalanche sent Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to Columbus for him and a pair of draft picks. Brindley and Fantilli were hanging out together when they found out about the trade.
Moving from a franchise that has missed the playoffs five straight seasons to a Stanley Cup contender might seem like a tough break for a young player trying to break into the NHL, but Brindley was a standout at his first Colorado training camp and made the team.
He’s spent the first four games of the Avs’ season on the fourth line, and he picked up his first NHL goal Saturday against the Dallas Stars. Brindley also had the honor of the first water bottle shower from Gabe Landeskog — a tradition from the captain for first-time scorers — since his return after missing nearly three full seasons with knee issues.
“I feel great,” Brindley said. “Body feels good. I feel like every game the energy is good. I’m just trying to get better every game and get comfortable.
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“I’ve got to prove myself. I’ve got to do the little things right, and hone in on the details. Just whatever you get, you’ve got to take advantage of it. That’s what I’m focusing on right now.”
Brindley has always been one of the best players on his team. He’s used to earning a lot of ice time. For example, he played for the world junior championships team when he was an underage player for the United States and was a depth player. So he has a little experience forcing his way onto the ice.
He averaged 7:36 minutes per contest in the first three games, but got a bump up to 10:06 on Monday in Buffalo. It’s far from what Brindley has played in the past, but his coach has praised his play throughout camp and into the first two weeks of the regular season.
“I think he’s doing an exceptional job with that,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “There’s some big stretches in between some of his shifts because of special teams. I know he’s used to playing on those.
“He came out and scored a big goal after a long gap. He’s staying focused, staying ready, staying prepared. He understands the importance of every shift. For a young guy, I think that’s a really hard thing and he’s handling it real well.”
FOOTNOTES: Landeskog did not practice Wednesday, but Bednar said it was just a day off and he will play Thursday night. … The Avs won’t get a chance to play against Wood for the first time since the trade. He sustained an eye injury Monday night against the New Jersey Devils, and will miss at least a week.
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