Brian Flynn (ice hockey)

Brian Flynn
Flynn with the Montreal Canadiens in 2015
Born	(1988-07-26) July 26, 1988 (age 33) Lynnfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Free Agent Buffalo Sabres Montreal Canadiens EV Zug HC Ambrì-Piotta
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2012–present

Brian Michael Flynn (born July 26, 1988) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens.

Playing career

Flynn in October 2013.

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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 season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005–06	Pomfret School	HS–Prep		29	31	22	53	—		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Pomfret School	HS–Prep		27	26	23	49	—		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs	EJHL		41	26	19	45	24		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	University of Maine	HE		38	12	13	25	10		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	University of Maine	HE		39	19	28	47	12		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	University of Maine	HE		36	20	16	36	8		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	University of Maine	HE		40	18	30	48	37		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Rochester Americans	AHL		5	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Rochester Americans	AHL		45	16	16	32	18		3	0	0	0	4
2012–13	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		26	6	5	11	0		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		79	6	7	13	14		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		54	5	12	17	8		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		9	0	0	0	0		6	1	2	3	0
2015–16	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		56	4	6	10	6		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		51	6	4	10	4		1	0	0	0	0
2017–18	Texas Stars	AHL		66	18	29	47	14		22	6	9	15	6
2018–19	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		21	1	8	9	8		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	EV Zug	NL		13	5	4	9	8		13	4	2	6	2
2019–20	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NL		49	13	20	33	18		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NL		50	9	25	34	35		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Utica Comets	AHL		61	13	13	26	24		5	1	2	3	4
NHL totals				275	27	34	61	32		7	1	2	3	0

Awards and honors

Award	Year
College
Len Ceglarski Award - Hockey East Sportsmanship [11]	2011
All-Hockey East First Team [2]	2011–12

References

1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
2. "Dumoulin, Almeida Highlight 2011-12 Hockey East All-Star Teams". bcinterruption.com. March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
3. Mahoney, Larry (March 28, 2012). "Maine hockey linemates, roommates Brian Flynn, Spencer Abbott agree to pro contracts". BangorDailyNews.com. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
4. "Canadiens acquire Brian Flynn from Sabres". Montreal Canadiens. March 2, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
5. "Canadiens agree to terms on a two-year contract with forward Brian Flynn". Canadiens.com. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
6. "Stars sign forward Brian Flynn to one-year contract". Dallas Stars. July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
7. Bob McKenzie (July 1, 2017). "Brian Flynn agrees to deal with Blues". Twitter . Retrieved July 1, 2017.
8. "Blues terminate contract with Flynn". San Antonio Rampage. January 18, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
9. "American Forward Brian Flynn for ECC" (in German). EV Zug. January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
10. "Devils sign four players to two-way deals". New Jersey Devils. July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
11. "Hockey East Awards 2011". Hockey East. April 1, 2011. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Ben Smith	Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award 2010–11	Succeeded by Chris Connolly