Another top Michigan hockey player is leaving school early to turn pro.
Sophomore Gavin Brindley, the Wolverines' leading scorer this season, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, forgoing his final two years of NCAA eligibility.
The Big Ten Player of the Year, who played his final collegiate game in Thursday's national semifinal loss to No. 1 Boston College, is expected to make his NHL debut Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, according to Sportsnet's Elliott Friedman. .
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Brindley was selected 34th overall in last summer's draft and had a phenomenal 2023-24 season, leading the Wolverines in scoring and helping them reach the Frozen Four for the third straight year. His 53 points ranked eighth nationally, and his 25 points ranked tied for sixth.
The 5-foot-9 speedster only scored one goal during his freshman year, but exploded for 11 goals in the second half for 38 points in 41 games. His strong play continued this season as he played on the University of Michigan's top line.
Related: Michigan State's leading scorer solidifies his status as top NHL prospect
Brinley has been involved in signing pro contracts since the end of the Wolverines' season, along with sophomore Frank Nasar, a 2022 first-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, and a 2021 fourth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was joined by one third-year student, Dylan Duke.
Rutger McGroarty, the Winnipeg Jets' 2022 first-round pick who finished second at Michigan in scoring with 52 points, announced on Instagram that he will resume training for his junior season, and the team received good news late Monday. Ta.
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