Chris Kuc | Ah, beat
On a recent cold night in Rosemount, Illinois, the Carolina Hurricane Brass Pipes gathered to watch the organization’s highest prospects, bringing ice to its American Hockey League member Chicago Wolves.
Hurricane coach Rod Brind’amour Sitting in the front row of Allstate Arena Suite to first-hand observe players who will soon make an impact at the NHL level.
When Brind’amour was evaluating each Wolves’ players while on the ice, his attention naturally draws on the No. 22 player and sews it in the back of the jersey with a familiar name.
Skyler Brind’amourRod’s 25-year-old son was his first season with the Wolves and has developed into one of the team’s most reliable strikers. Through 53 games, Skyler has set the AHL career high with 13 goals, two of which were scored, two Gunners and two players in the game – 5 assists and 18 points.
“I love watching him play,” Rod Brind’amour said as he rested in the action. “When we talk about hockey, I’m the coach first. If I see something, I’ll try to make sure I’m teaching. Then there’s the supportive stuff. I try not to work too hard on him. You have to be a dad, too.”
To do this, Rod watched each Wolves game without hesitation about his thoughts on Skyler’s performance.
“He usually texts me,” Skyler said. “He looked at all the games, not only for me, but for him, he liked to look at the prospects, so I talked to him a lot. He gave me ideas about the games – some good, some bad.
“Obviously, he’s doing a few things about coaching and daddy,” Skyler continued. “You always think your kid can do that, but he’s kind to it. He tries to stay away from it and let me start a conversation in the feedback. Sometimes, I don’t want to hear it, so he’ll leave me alone. For the most part, everything is fine. He knows what he’s talking about, so I’m trying to listen.”
Rod Brind’amour should know what he is talking about. During his career from 1989 to 2010, he played 1,484 NHL games with St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers and the Carolina Hurricanes, including joining Cane in the 2006 Stanley Cup Championship.
The 2nd Frank J. Selke trophy winner and the 1992 NHL All-Star team has been head coaching for the Hurricanes since 2018 and the Jack Adams Award in 2021.
So how does he evaluate his son’s game?
“He did a little thing very well,” Rhode said. “It’s about him being on the top of the puck and being on the top of his guy and making sure every puck is right. What are you doing with the puck? Are you leaving it in a better place?
“I want to see him sometimes more selfish, but that’s not what he looks like.” “He works hard, he puts in honest effort, and that’s what you ask.”
One thing that cannot be taught is size, and this is the area where Skyler Brind’amour stands out.
Skyler, 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, knocked the net without hesitation and caused most of his damage in close range.
“That’s how I’ve been scoring goals all the time, just in the front,” Skyler said. “I’m bigger, so I’m trying to get there.”
Skyler said his father was “critical” to his development as a player. “Every step he is with me.”
What advice did Skyler put down for his father when he said he wanted to make a living hockey?
“He said, ‘You have to work hard every day. If you want to do that, you have to go all out – not half the time,” Skyler said. “‘You’re going to have some tough nights or even tough years, but if you really want it, you have to keep fighting.'”
Skyler, who was drafted in the sixth round by the Edmonton Oilers at the 2017 NHL Draft, said the legends in the sport do have one small drawback: It’s known that opponents can bring the same name to his name.
“Yes, I’ll definitely get a few of them,” Skyler said with a smile. “But I don’t pay much attention to it.”
