The Colorado Avalanche have sent Gavin Brindley back to the Colorado Eagles, trimming the club to 21 players on its 23-man active roster.
The move comes with Logan O’Connor expected to come off long-term injured reserve before tomorrow’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette. O’Connor is expected to slide into the fourth-line role Brindley was occupying, though Colorado still has one open roster spot.
There’s also another forward inching toward a return. Nicolas Roy is making progress after a lower-body injury, skating on his own before practice today. The Avalanche are hopeful he can be ready for Sunday’s game against the Nashville Predators, while Friday’s game has already been ruled out.
Colorado dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen in Tuesday’s loss to the New Jersey Devils, and head coach Jared Bednar told reporters today, including DNVR Sports’ Bailey Curtis, that the team is weighing a call-up from the AHL to help out O’Connor and Parker Kelly on the fourth line. With Brindley already sent down, it does not appear he’s the one in line for that extra recall.
Brindley’s latest NHL stint was brief. He was recalled on Oct. 14 and appeared in four games, averaging just 8:08 of ice time per night and seeing no time on special teams. He did pick up his first point of the season with an assist on an Artturi Lehkonen goal late in Tuesday’s loss, but otherwise had a quiet run.
The 22-year-old winger is still trying to establish himself at the NHL level. He posted 13 points in 53 NHL games last season and has 36 points in 86 career AHL games, including the playoffs. Still, Brindley has long been viewed as one of the organization’s more intriguing young forwards, and his work rate remains part of the appeal.
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic ranked Brindley as the No. 1 prospect in the Avalanche’s system earlier this year. He lost out on an NHL roster spot in preseason and training camp to former college teammate T.J.
Hughes, a setback that stalled some of his momentum. For now, the path is back to the AHL - but if Brindley can turn this assignment into productive games, another NHL call-up should be coming again.
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For Avalanche fans, the intrigue is less about when the jersey arrives than what it might actually look like. The teaser has already sent the usual design theories back into circulation, including the long-discussed possibility of a return to the old Yeti foot logo, though nothing has been confirmed yet. For now, Colorado has only hinted at a fresh direction, leaving the final reveal as one more offseason-style mystery still hanging out there. [Read more 🡒]