With the addition of Matvei Michkov to the Philadelphia Flyers’ offense, there’s just one small, younger winger on anybody’s thoughts proper now. Nevertheless, there’s one other one to be taken discover of: Bobby Brink.
Brink, a 23-year-old, signed a two-year extension price $1.5 million yearly within the 2024 offseason which reads as a “show it” deal. Although he seemingly gained’t have a prime spot within the lineup, it truly is time for him to take that subsequent step.
Brink Must Progress
It would seem to be Brink is simply getting began in his profession, however the actuality is that he’s been a member of the Flyers for a very long time. Coming into his sixth season since being drafted by the Orange and Black (thirty fourth total in 2019), he has to show himself quickly. At this stage, development will probably be wanted—stagnation may imply dropping a spot in an NHL lineup as soon as his two-year deal is up.
Now, it may appear hasty to speak this manner about Brink, a participant who was spectacular on the collegiate stage and has solely 67 NHL video games beneath his belt. However he’s a 5-foot-8, 169-pound winger who facilities his sport round offense—27 factors with very poor on-ice stats isn’t best. His plus-1 ranking may look okay, however he benefitted from having the very best sum of on-ice save share and on-ice taking pictures share, also referred to as PDO, amongst Flyer forwards.
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Brink was respectable points-wise with 23 in 57 contests, ending sixth on the staff in factors per 60 (P/60) with 1.76. That being mentioned, his subpar protection and likelihood creation make a future breakout fairly very important, seeing as he actually hasn’t proven he deserves greater than a depth ahead function within the NHL.
At this stage, it’s much less about whether or not head coach John Tortorella will give the teen his possibilities and extra about incomes these alternatives. With wingers Tyson Foerster, Michkov, Owen Tippett, Travis Konecny, and Joel Farabee all forward of him when it comes to significance, it’ll be a battle for ice time. Noah Cates and Garnet Hathaway, two elite defensive wingers on a staff that relied on their protection in 2023-24, make it assured that no likelihood will simply be handed to Brink.
It doesn’t look inspiring for Brink’s future in Philadelphia, however it’s necessary to comprehend that he controls his personal future right here. If he performs higher than his teammates, he’ll get a better share of ice time—a middle-six function and good power-play utilization is his upside, and it might be achieved with sufficient work. Including, say, two minutes to his 13:48 of common ice time from final season would go a good distance.
With the abundance of expertise the Flyers have on the wing presently and within the pipeline who aren’t removed from NHL-ready (Samu Tuomaala, Denver Barkey, and probably Massimo Rizzo), one other satisfactory season wouldn’t be sufficient. Brink’s expertise are sadly replaceable, so it’s as much as him to show he belongs with the Orange and Black for the long-term future. Scoring round 45 factors with good on-ice stats is the important thing right here—it’s very attainable however nonetheless a problem for somebody who appears restricted to the third line.
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Stagnation is the largest killer of NHL careers. So long as somebody is constantly bettering, it doesn’t matter if it takes them till 27, for instance, to interrupt out. However Brink hasn’t actually progressed since his 2021-22 marketing campaign—that’s why these subsequent couple of seasons are enormous for him.
Gamers Who Encourage Brink Can Have a Memorable Profession
Greater, extra bodily gamers are typically given the advantage of the doubt, as their measurement is beneficial within the NHL. However Brink is already going through a drawback along with his measurement—coupling that with mediocre manufacturing makes it exhausting to place him within the lineup with full confidence. Nevertheless, he’s not the primary participant of his sort. Right here, let’s take a look at some smaller gamers who took their time to succeed in new heights on the NHL stage.
Cam Atkinson
Cam Atkinson, a former Flyer, is strictly the kind of profession archetype that Brink needs to be aiming for. Atkinson, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound winger taken within the sixth spherical of the 2008 NHL Draft, rose up the ranks to defy his late choice. But it surely didn’t come with out battle.
Atkinson didn’t debut within the NHL till 2011-12, which was 4 seasons after being drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had elite numbers within the Nationwide Collegiate Athletic Affiliation (NCAA) identical to Brink, so this comparability isn’t far off. The previous had 14 factors in 27 NHL contests with nice on-ice stats that season, so he was a bit additional forward when it comes to improvement. Nevertheless, he had an almost equivalent marketing campaign in a shortened 2012-13 (18 factors in 35 video games)—he wasn’t a star simply but.
Atkinson had back-to-back 40-point seasons earlier than reaching 53 in 2015-16. Scoring 35 objectives and 62 factors in 2016-17 and incomes All-Star honors, that’s when he reached top-six ahead standing. Whereas he was at all times a bit of bit higher than Brink, the development right here goes to indicate how necessary these subsequent couple of seasons are for the 23-year-old.
Viktor Arvidsson
A barely larger Viktor Arvidsson holds a 5-foot-10, 185-pound body however needed to earn what has been a stable NHL profession. Chosen within the 2014 NHL Draft a complete three seasons after first being eligible, he was anticipated to take cost very early even when he was a fourth-rounder. He acquired his first true stint within the NHL in 2015-16, his age-22 marketing campaign—this is identical as Brink. Arvidsson scored 16 factors in 56 video games and had below-average on-ice numbers, organising a pivotal 2016-17 marketing campaign. And that’s the place he confirmed his true colours.
Arvidsson had a 61-point season in 2016-17, making him an important member of the Nashville Predators’ run to the Stanley Cup Last. That’s clearly a stretch for Brink, however larger alternatives are gained with higher play on the ice. It’s exhausting to see the latter placing up greater than 50 factors, however reaching that may show he’s a worthy NHLer. The numbers counsel that it was a battle for Arvidsson, very like it was for Brink, however an incredible profession was achieved.
Jonathan Marchessault
Our first undrafted participant right here, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Jonathan Marchessault had simply 4 video games beneath his belt getting into the seventh season following his eligibility for the 2009 NHL Draft. In 2014-15, Marchessault had 67 factors in 68 American Hockey League (AHL) video games, which is inspiring for Brink who had 13 factors in 13 AHL contests in 2023-24.
Marchessault had a good 18 factors in 45 video games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015-16 with inspiring on-ice metrics. Nevertheless, he was already 25 and 26 years previous at the moment, so a breakout was vital. He discovered that with the Florida Panthers in 2016-17, scoring 30 objectives and 51 factors—he has averaged 67 factors per 82 contests since then, even successful the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy. Once more, there’s time, however not a ton of it.
It’s not straightforward for small wingers to craft a memorable NHL profession in the event that they haven’t made an influence by the point they flip 23, however it’s been completed earlier than. Might Brink be the subsequent to do it?
Stats courtesy of Pure Stat Trick
