LOS ANGELES — Gavin Brindley now can legally drink in the United States. He might have celebrated with a cold one after earning a job with the Avalanche. 

The winger, who was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets over the summer, turned 21 on Sunday. A few days later, he found out he’d made the opening night roster for the Avalanche. Jared Bednar made the trip worth his while, putting the young forward in the lineup for Colorado’s dominant 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. 

Nothing was given to Brindley. It was all earned. 

“He played great (in the preseason),” Bednar said. “He was highly competitive; he’s got a great motor; he’s relentless on pucks. Moment’s not too big for him and he doesn’t look intimidated at all. He went and made the most of his opportunities through camp and through exhibition, so he’s earned the right to be in the lineup.” 

Colorado Avalanche players celebrate the team’s win over the Los Angeles Kings in an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Tuesday night was not Brindley’s NHL debut. He suited up for a game in Columbus just days after turning pro. In a way, it felt like his first again, doing it for an entirely different organization. 

While he was on the roster on opening night, he knows he can’t rest on his laurels. If anything, he must pick up the intensity. 

“(Work) doesn’t stop now,” Brindley said. “I think (it’s important) finding another gear and keep playing my game the way I’ve been playing lately. Once again, just excited for the opportunity.” 

Brindley’s first regular season game in an Avalanche sweater wasn’t perfect, but it was impressive. Although he had a turnover that led to a good chance for the Kings in the second period, he otherwise played well. He created a good look for himself late in the first by forcing a turnover at the defensive blue line and had another solid look in the slot that was blocked. Colorado’s fourth line was on the ice for a goal and also drew a penalty on the Kings. 

Not bad for a first game with a new organization. He’s already impressed the team’s captain. 

“He’s been great,” Gabriel Landeskog said. “Really pleasantly surprised by him and what he brings to our team. I think he’s got a unique skill set that not every team has with his explosiveness and how fast he is, and obviously he’s got high-end skills.” 

Listed at 5-foot-8, Brindley will continue to face questions about whether he’s big enough to be a full-time NHL player. Luckily for him, there have been more than a few smaller forwards that have made it in the NHL that have carved a path for him. 

Columbus Blue Jackets’ Gavin Brindley, left, keeps the puck away from St. Louis Blues’ Tyler Tucker during the second period of a preseason NHL hockey game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

“I love the way (Tampa Bay Lightning center) Brayden Point skates and works,” Brindley said. “I think he has a really high-end skill set and that’s someone that I’ve tried to model my game after. I feel like size isn’t a huge thing now in today’s NHL, which is good for me. … (Point) is someone I’ve looked up to the past couple years.”

Point is a former 50-goal scorer and soon-to-be Olympian. Not a bad guy to model your game after.

“The Day After” Notes

Josh Manson’s enormous hit on Warren Foegele at the end of the first period seemed to spark the Avalanche heading into the second. He brings a unique element the defense every NHL team needs. “He’s called ‘Manimal’ for a reason,” Scott Wedgewood said after the game.

The Avalanche weren’t too happy with Jeff Malott, who went after Manson for the hit. While Landeskog didn’t go into much detail after the game, he had some words for Malott while the refs were escorting Malott to the locker room.

Landeskog didn’t play a ton, getting less than 12 minutes of ice time. He said he felt great after the game. Having your leader back is helpful in more ways than one. After the Manson fight, Landeskog immediately jumped on the ice to talk to the refs about how Malott should get an extra 2 minutes for starting it. That’s exactly what happened. Having one of the more respected players in the game back on your bench never hurts.

Nolan Pratt spread out the ice time on defense, something the Avalanche would ideally like to do more of. The addition of Brent Burns, who played a little over 20 minutes, gives Pratt another minute-muncher on his blue line.