Top Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Gavin Brindley joins USA for World Championship

USA Hockey announced Wednesday that Columbus Blue Jackets top prospect Gavin Brindley has been named to Team USA ahead of the 2024 IIHF Men’s World Championships.

Brindley joins prospects like San Jose Sharks’ Will Smith and Washington Capitals’ prospect Ryan Leonard.

Brindley was selected No. 34 overall in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft by Columbus and made his NHL debut April 16 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Brindley spent the 2023-24 regular season with the Univeristy of Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA where he notched 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points in 40 games leading Wolverines skaters. Brindley was named an NCAA First Team All-American, Big Ten First All-Star Team and the league’s Player of the Year after finishing tied for sixth among NCAA leaders in goals. Brindley led Michigan in scoring and ranked second in goals and fourth in assists, leading the Wolverines to the 2024 NCAA Frozen Four.

During the 2022-23 regular season, Brindley finished fifth on the team in scoring — right behind NHL first-round picks Mackie Samoskevich (Florida Panthers) and Rutger McGroarty (Winnipeg Jets) — and helped Michigan reach the Frozen Four. Throughout his two seasons at Michigan, the 19-year-old notched 37 goals and 54 assists for 91 points with 50 penalty minutes in 81 NCAA games.

The USA will face off against Sweden on Friday in the opening game of the World Championships.