PuckSleuth
Gavin Brindley54

Not on an NHL roster · Center · Shoots R

Gavin Brindley

Age 22 · 5'8" · 173 lb · Born in Fort Myers, USA

Cap hit

$875K

0.8% of $104M cap

Term

2 yrs

Through 2027-28, then RFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$1.678M

vs. $2.553M market estimate

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

GP

56

Goals

6

9.7% shooting

Assists

7

3 primary

Points

13

0.23 per game

TOI/GP

9:33

PP 1:02 · PK 0:03

Plus/minus

+2

Hits

37

Blocks 15

PIM

8

Game Score

+0.31

per game

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Mar 22
@ WSH · W 3-2
001004:570:000:00——00+1+0.20
Mar 20
@ CHI · W 4-1
0021012:291:100:00—33100+0.09
Mar 18
vs DAL · OTL 2-1
001103:500:000:00—000-1-0.09
Mar 16
vs PIT · L 7-2
0101010:202:170:00——11-1+0.57
Mar 14
@ WPG · L 3-1
000015:261:060:00——00-1-0.15

GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 459 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%48.9%

47th percentile

Relative xGF%-11.0

3rd percentile

HDCF%48.6%

47th percentile

CF%53.5%

84th percentile

Relative CF%-4.6

14th percentile

FF%52.5%

78th percentile

GF%57.1%

82nd percentile

CF/6062.8

83rd percentile

CA/6054.6

74th percentile

ixG/600.92

46th percentile

Goals above expected-1.0

44th percentile

IPP50.0%

11th percentile

PDO100.2

58th percentile

OZS%58.0%

69th percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleHigh-speed rush driver

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Brindley is a fearless attacker who generates chances at an elite pace through explosive speed and aggressive rush entries. His playmaking and defensive work remain underdeveloped for a center, limiting his all-around contribution despite his electric offensive potential.

Elite skaterRush attackerHigh-volume shooter
Shooting volume
71
Playmaking
19
Zone entries(est.)
98
Forechecking
54
Physicality
44
Defensive impact
11
Puck management
56
Speed
92

Where he shoots from

Slot 58% · Mid-range 37% · Perimeter 4%(91 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Exceptional speed and agility translates to 98th percentile rush chances for clean entries
  • Shoots frequently and accurately from dangerous areas with 91st percentile unblocked shot rate
  • Above-average forechecking energy and puck management despite limited overall defensive impact

Watch-outs

  • Playmaking ranks just 19th percentile, suggesting limited ability to set up teammates
  • Defensive impact at 11th percentile indicates struggles reading plays and supporting team defense
  • Physicality at 44th percentile means he doesn't use his frame to win battles consistently

Similar style: Bobby McMann (SEA), Vinnie Hinostroza

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

SeasonLeagueTeamGPGAP+/-PIM
2013-14Brick InvitationalTeam Minnesota6123—4
2016-17WSI U13East Coast Selects O U135314—2
2016-17QC Int PWFlorida Alliance PW3437—0
2017-18WSI U14East Coast Selects O U1486410——
2018-19WSI U15East Coast Selects O U159347—0
2019-20USA-S15Team Columbia4246—0
2019-20NAPHL 16UFlorida Alliance 16U AAA15172542—4
2019-20YOGUSA U164112+20
2019-20 (playoffs)NAPHL 16UFlorida Alliance 16U AAA5437—0
2020-21USHLTri-City Storm5191322-118
2020-21 (playoffs)USHLTri-City Storm3112+10
2021-22USHLTri-City Storm51142842+933
2021-22NTDPU.S. National U18 Team15279+108
2021-22WJC-18USA U186134+42
2021-22 (playoffs)USHLTri-City Storm3112-30
2022-23NCAAUniv. of Michigan41122638+2122
2022-23WJC-20USA U207134-14
2023-24NHLColumbus Blue Jackets100000
2023-24NCAAUniv. of Michigan40252853+1728
2023-24WJC-20USA U2076410+70
2023-24WCUSA5101+10
2024-25AHLCleveland Monsters5261117-1024
2024-25 (playoffs)AHLCleveland Monsters400000
2025-26NHLColorado Avalanche566713+28
2025-26AHLColorado Eagles9246-12
2025-26 (playoffs)AHLColorado Eagles17358-110

Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.

Latest news

Headlines from news outlets and team blogs

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Recent Game Scores

Last 10 games · goals above average

Average +0.09 per game over these 10.

Where his Game Score comes from

+0.31 per game

2025-26 · 56 GP

Season total +17.4, or +0.31 per game.

Scoring
+10.1
Shooting
+4.7
5-on-5 goals
+0.9
Physical play
+1.5
Puck battles
-0.8
Penalties
+1.1
Faceoffs
-0.1

Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed
23.2 mph
89th pct
20+ mph bursts
168
Hardest shot
86.3 mph
58th pct
Distance
92.3 mi
OZ time
42.8%
58th pct
DZ time
38.7%

Age curve

At 22: 98% of peak

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 22, forwards typically produce 98% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 23, when the typical level is 99%.

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Contract by season

2 seasons left

SeasonTeamCap hit% of cap
2026-27COL$875K0.8%
2027-28COL$875K0.8%

RFA after 2027-28. $1.75M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).