Blue Jackets prospect Gavin Brindley suffered a damaged finger in Tuesday’s exhibition win over the Blues and can miss 4 to 6 weeks in restoration, common supervisor Don Waddell said. He’s been positioned on season-opening injured reserve and gained’t depend towards the 23-man restrict to begin the season.
It’s a troublesome break for Brindley, who was within the operating to crack Columbus’ roster in his first coaching camp with the membership. A spectacular 2023-24 season on the College of Michigan vaulted the 19-year-old up the organizational depth chart, main the Wolverines in scoring with 25 objectives and 53 factors in 40 video games whereas being named the Large Ten’s Participant of the 12 months. He signed his entry-level contract following Michigan’s elimination from the nationwide event and made his NHL debut within the Jackets’ last sport of the season towards the Hurricanes, posting zeros throughout the board in 12:20 of ice time.
The diminutive 5’9″, 168-lb ahead was seen as a possible first-round risk in 2023 however fell to Columbus within the early second at thirty fourth general, largely attributable to issues over his dimension. It hasn’t stopped the high-end playmaking winger from making a significant influence on the collegiate and worldwide junior ranges, although. Brindley scored six objectives and 10 factors in seven video games at this 12 months’s World Juniors en path to a gold medal with america. He additionally made his senior nationwide group debut with a objective in 5 video games on the World Championship.
Brindley’s timeline for a return places his potential season debut throughout the first half of November. Whether or not that comes with the Jackets or AHL Cleveland stays to be seen. He doesn’t require waivers, so upon returning to well being he may be ferried on to the minors with none trouble.
With Justin Danforth nonetheless seemingly on the shelf to begin the 12 months attributable to a wrist harm, there’s one ahead spot open in Columbus that Brindley was in rivalry for. That competitors is now right down to a extra skilled checklist of Dylan Gambrell, Owen Sillinger and 23-year-old Mikael Pyyhtia to open the season because the Jackets’ fourth-line left wing.