Bobby Brink: Two-Way USHL Winger Who Should Be On The Habs Radar At the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver
ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA – For some time, the USA National Team Development Program (USNTDP) has been producing elite talent. This season, several of the potential first-round draft eligible players are coming out of the USNTDP. Most of the attention has been on Cole Caufield and wonder-kid Jack Hughes, who formed a lethal one-two punch for the bronze medalist Team USA at the 2018 U18 World Championships.
But there are also many other players being developed south of the border. One Minnesota-born player that should get some attention is Bobby Brink.
Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) 
July 8, 2001 | Excelsior, MN, USA.
5-10, 163 lbs. | Shoots Right | @BobbyBrink19
2018-’19: 43 GP, 35 G, 33 A, 68 PTS
CSB: 19 (NA Skaters) | ISS: No. 23 | THN: No. 27 | HP: No. 15 | FC: No.23
Skill and skating are proving to be more valued assets over size in today’s NHL, yet size is still a factor. At five-foot-ten-inches, 163 pounds, Brink is not physically imposing but does not let his smaller stature change his approach to the game. He will need to add some strength and muscle mass to hold up to the physical play at the professional level. As a University of Denver committed player for next season, Brink will have the time to focus on adding the needed mass while improving his skills at one of the NCAA’s top hockey programs.
Ranked as a late first round pick by most scouting groups, Brink could prove to be an excellent target for Marc Bergevin to use assets to trade up from 46th overall.
Derek Neumeier of Future Considerations offered this opinion on Brink, “Despite his diminutive size, he is dangerous around the net, assertively finding open space and loose pucks.”
Brink is not seen as being as talented a goal scorer as Caufield or a playmaker as Hughes, his former Team USA teammates. However, Brink does combine those skills to provide high end offensive abilities. What sets him apart from many prospects is his overall hockey IQ and elite work ethic, which is what makes him a Trevor Timmins type of selection.
Brink displays his intelligence not just by what he can do with the puck, but also what he does away from the puck. His offensive skills force opponents to respect him, which opens space for him or his linemates to generate offence. He’s also a responsible defensive player who likes to recover the puck to launch a transition game.
Brink has shown he can carry a team in his age group as through his outstanding performance in Bonnyville, Alberta in December 2018 leading Team USA to a World Junior A Challenge Gold medal. He was awarded tournament MVP honours for his efforts, putting him in good company with former MVPs such as Andrei Svechnikov, Nikolaj Ehlers, Tyson Jost and Kyle Turris.
Brink isn’t going to blow you away with overwhelming skill— he has talent, but he doesn’t use it in a particularly flashy kind of way. In all three zones, Brink excels at making small, high percentage plays that will give him and his linemates more offensive options.
Brink’s main Achilles heel is his skating ability. His posture, skating style and edge work all need a great deal of improvement. Despite the bad mechanics, he can get around the ice.
Proud to announce my commitment to play hockey at the University of Denver. Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way!
— Bobby Brink (@BobbyBrink19) January 28, 2017
Brink will still need to continue to work on his game. Right now, his size, strength and skating are the largest issues to be dealt with. On the ice his defensive play, even though it is seen as very mature and effective for his age and level, will need to continue to improve to be effective at the NCAA level and beyond.
Brink has flown under the radar all season. While Brink’s size makes him a project in patience as he grows into the game, the current USHL forward of the year could become a real draft steal. His ability to control the play from the wing is not unheard of, but rare.
Finding dynamic puck control players is always a welcome addition to a team’s prospect pool. Brink’s offensive abilities are raw, but enticing enough that he may be off the board by the end of the first round.
By Blain Potvin, Staff Writer. Edited by Cate Racher.
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