Brian Flynn (ice hockey) explained

Brian Flynn
Birth Date:26 July 1988
Birth Place:Lynnfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:183
Position:Center
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:Free agent
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Buffalo Sabres
Montreal Canadiens
EV Zug
HC Ambrì-Piotta
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2012

Brian Michael Flynn (born July 26, 1988) is an American professional ice hockey forward who is an unrestricted free agent. Originally undrafted by teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), Flynn has previously played for the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens.

Playing career

As a youth, Flynn played in the 2002 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Middlesex Islanders minor ice hockey team.[1]

Flynn played his high school hockey at a New England private school in Connecticut, Pomfret School. Undrafted, Flynn previously played for the Maine Black Bears in the NCAA Men's Division I Hockey East conference. In his senior year, Flynn's outstanding play was rewarded with a selection to the 2011-12 Hockey East First-Team All-Stars.[2]

On March 28, 2012, Flynn agreed to terms on a two-way, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.[3] As Flynn was over the age of 22 when he entered the league, he was allowed to forgo the NHL Draft and sign as a free agent. During the lockout shortened 2012–13 season, Flynn was called up March 1, 2013, and scored his first NHL goal on March 7 against Johan Hedberg of the New Jersey Devils.

On March 2, 2015, Flynn was traded by the Sabres to the Montreal Canadiens for a 2016 fifth-round draft pick.[4] On April 15, 2015, he played in his first ever playoff game and scored the game-winning goal against the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Following the conclusion of the 2014–15 season, Flynn re-signed to a two-year contract extension with the Canadiens on July 1, 2015.[5]

After two and a half seasons with the Canadiens, Flynn left as a free agent and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2017.[6] After attending the Stars training camp, Flynn was placed on waivers and assigned to AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars for the duration of the 2017–18 season. In 66 games he regained his scoring touch, to contribute with 18 goals and 47 points. He helped the Stars advance to the Calder Cup finals before falling to the Toronto Marlies.

As a free agent from the Stars, Flynn opted to sign a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues on July 1, 2018.[7] Flynn was assigned to begin the 2018–19 season, with the Blues' AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. Limited to 21 games through injury with the Rampage, Flynn requested to be terminated from his contract with the Blues and was place and cleared unconditional waivers on January 18, 2019.[8]

On January 21, 2019, Flynn agreed to his first European contract, joining Swiss club EV Zug of the National League (NL) on a one-year deal through the end of the 2018–19 season.[9] He was released at the end of the season and signed a 4-month contract with HC Ambrì-Piotta on August 9, 2019. On December 31, 2019, his contract with Ambri-Piotta was extended through the end of the 2019-20 season. On May 22, 2020, Flynn was signed to a one-year contract extension by Ambri-Piotta through the 2020–21 season.

After three seasons abroad in Switzerland, Flynn returned to North America as a free agent, securing a one-year, two-way deal with the New Jersey Devils on July 29, 2021.[10]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2005–06Pomfret SchoolHS–Prep29312253
2006–07Pomfret SchoolHS–Prep27262349
2007–08New Hampshire Jr. MonarchsEJHL4126194524
2008–09University of MaineHE3812132510
2009–10University of MaineHE3919284712
2010–11University of MaineHE362016368
2011–12University of MaineHE4018304837
2011–12Rochester AmericansAHL50110
2012–13Rochester AmericansAHL451616321830004
2012–13Buffalo SabresNHL2665110
2013–14Buffalo SabresNHL79671314
2014–15Buffalo SabresNHL54512178
2014–15Montreal CanadiensNHL9000061230
2015–16Montreal CanadiensNHL5646106
2016–17Montreal CanadiensNHL516410410000
2017–18Texas StarsAHL66182947142269156
2018–19San Antonio RampageAHL211898
2018–19EV ZugNL135498134262
2019–20HC Ambrì–PiottaNL4913203318
2020–21HC Ambrì–PiottaNL509253435
2021–22Utica CometsAHL611313262451234
2023Team Patrick3ICE8246
NHL totals275 27 34 61 327 1 2 3 0

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
Len Ceglarski Award - Hockey East Sportsmanship[11] 2011
All-Hockey East First Team2011–12

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA. 2018. Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2019-02-15. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf. dead.
  2. Web site: Dumoulin, Almeida Highlight 2011-12 Hockey East All-Star Teams . bcinterruption.com . 2012-03-15 . 2012-03-15.
  3. Web site: Mahoney . Larry . 2012-03-28 . 2012-03-28 . Maine hockey linemates, roommates Brian Flynn, Spencer Abbott agree to pro contracts . BangorDailyNews.com .
  4. Web site: Canadiens acquire Brian Flynn from Sabres . . 2015-03-02 . 2015-03-02.
  5. Web site: Canadiens agree to terms on a two-year contract with forward Brian Flynn. Canadiens.com. June 30, 2015.
  6. Web site: Stars sign forward Brian Flynn to one-year contract . . 2017-07-01 . 2017-07-01.
  7. Web site: Brian Flynn agrees to deal with Blues . . Bob McKenzie . 2017-07-01 . 2017-07-01.
  8. Web site: Blues terminate contract with Flynn . . 2019-01-18 . 2019-01-18.
  9. Web site: American Forward Brian Flynn for ECC . . 2019-01-21 . 2019-01-23 . German.
  10. Web site: Devils sign four players to two-way deals . . July 29, 2021 . July 29, 2021.
  11. Web site: Hockey East Awards 2011 . . 2011-04-01 . 2012-04-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120413200503/http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/hea/awards.php . April 13, 2012 . mdy-all .