Photo Credit: Denver Pioneers/University of Denver
Chuck Fletcher made a bold moving up to grab Bobby Brink, a young man that was supposed to possess a snipers like shot, with the 34th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, and boy is he having a great year for the University of Denver in the NCAA.
Following this weekend, Brink is now leads the NCAA in scoring with 49 points. Brink has registered 13 goals and 36 assists in 29 games played, as he is playing with much poise and confidence this season after netting his first career Short-Handed goal this past weekend. For his efforts, Brink also leads the NCAA with a 1.62 point per game average. He should be in the running for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the best collegiate athlete in hockey.
The difference of Brink’s game this season as opposed to last season is finishing. He is getting to the dirty areas to pot goals or make plays, and he created plays off turnovers that he forces from the opposition. He has been that good to force his opponents to make mistake after mistake.
“I’m honored to join a classy, historic, organization. Flyers fans are so passionate, how can a person not be excited. It was a day I will remember for the rest of my life. My friends and family were very happy.”- Bobby Brink told Jamey Baskow last February
Brink has a wicked blast, as he can shoot from anywhere, but Brink can do it accurately in the same token. If a Defenseman has the guts to stand in the way of his hard slap shot…good luck, or better yet…good riddance. Fletcher moved up and selected Brink to help aide the Flyers with secondary scoring in the future, and to restock the Right Wing position.
This young prospect in Brink opened some eyes in his freshman season for the Pioneers. He really showcased his talent of being a sniper, a player with a goal scoring touch, en route to a solid year by potting 11 goals, and registering 13 assists for a total of 24 points in 28 games played. Believe it or not from watching some of his games from this season, it appears as though Brink’s speed has improved significantly.
This young man has some great hockey tools that the Flyers could benefit from in the future. Brink is clearly working on his skating to get faster, but his hockey IQ ranks off the charts. He is earning himself an ELC (Entry-Level-Contract), as Chuck Fletcher recently indicated at his presser that he would like to sign Brink at the end of the season. I have been given every indication that this will exactly be the case.
Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store
I’ve seen almost every game of Brink’s three year career in Denver. His best attribute is his hockey sense – his ability to generate his points not only through speed, strength or skill, but his ability to read and react to his teammates ideas – Brink thinks the game at a higher level. He reminds me a bit of another Denver second round pick who fashioned a long NHL career – Paul Stastny.