Editor's note: This article appeared in the March-April issue of New England Hockey Journal.
The day before New England Hockey Journal chatted with Brian Flynn, the Lynnfield, Mass., native scored a goal that perfectly suits him.
Justin Abdelkader of EV Zug in the Swiss National League skated the puck out from behind his net, hoping to start a breakout. As he turned the post toward the front, Flynn, a veteran with Ambri-Piotta, lifted his stick — like Abdelkader’s former Detroit teammate Pavel Datsyuk was so deft at doing — and in a quick motion jammed the suddenly loose puck five-hole. The goal was equal parts skill and tenacity. Both are hallmarks of Flynn’s impressive career.
Playing for the Middlesex Islanders in his youth, Flynn’s skill shone a little brighter. He thrived at Lynnfield High, then sought the next challenge at Pomfret. While he continued to excel, he still wasn’t getting the college looks he wanted, so he opted for an extra year of juniors. Then-Maine coach Tim Whitehead and his staff really began to see what Flynn might be able to offer.
“We had him on our watch list,” Whitehead said. “He was intriguing when he was at Pomfret. It wasn’t until he got to the Monarchs that he really emerged. I remember talking to (Hobart head coach Mark Taylor) and asking, ‘Am I crazy, or is this guy that might go to you a Division 1 player?’ He (said), ‘Yeah. He’s a hidden gem.’ ”
Flynn joined a recruiting class that Whitehead hoped would keep the program from sliding too far. Maine had just endured its first losing season since 1985-86. With few upperclassmen, players such as Flynn got a chance to assume major roles right away. Flynn was among those who ran with it. According to Whitehead, Flynn had an engine that could run for a long time: “Brian was the most consistent competitor we had, and earned so much respect right away. He does everything well. He skates well, his endurance is fantastic. Not everyone can sprint when they’re tired, but he can.”
For his first three seasons, Flynn often got paired with the highly touted Gustav Nyquist. As sophomores, Nyquist led the country with 61 points. Flynn tied him for the team lead with 19 goals and appeared on the scoresheet 47 times himself. In each of those three seasons, Flynn finished in the top three on the Black Bears for scoring. After their junior years, Nyquist finally pursued his professional dream. Flynn chose to stay. Of course, Whitehead liked the move, but also thought it wise.
“I think that was a key opportunity for Brian to prove to some of these pro scouts that were interested, but yet thought he was that supporting cast guy. Being the go-to guy, being a captain of the team, and leading us to the NCAA tournament without Nyquist, I think really made a big statement,” the coach said.
Flynn also felt he could display a little more. He had some experience taking draws on special teams, so Whitehead felt comfortable moving Flynn to a full-time role up the middle. He threw him on a line with Spencer Abbott. Abbott accumulated 62 points to lead the nation. Flynn added 48 of his own to help Spencer get to the top. Two players pacing all of college hockey while playing alongside Flynn can hardly be considered a coincidence.
There were plenty of accolades Flynn could claim as he prepared to embark on a professional career. His success placed him 11th all-time in Black Bears history for scoring. He averaged just over a point a game. Even though Maine couldn’t return to the pinnacle of college hockey, the Black Bears improved in each of Flynn’s four years. They went from a sub-.500 team in his freshman year, to Hockey East runner-ups as a junior, to a national tournament appearance. Flynn could be utilized as a wing or a forward, on the power play or the penalty kill. As his time with Nyquist proved, he could play alongside NHL-caliber talent.
The Buffalo Sabres grew continuously interested in this unclaimed prospect. They invited him to play a few games with their AHL affiliate (Rochester) after that tournament exit. Flynn found that brief stint very valuable. “That was important, actually,” he said. “I’m very happy I did that. That wakes you up a little bit as to what pro hockey’s like.”
After relaying a story about a tiresome opening road trek to Abbotsford, British Columbia, Flynn emphasized that he wanted to shorten his stint grinding through the minors. “I remember that summer saying I want to give myself an opportunity to get out of there as quick as possible.”
The second lockout pushed Flynn down the depth chart to begin his first full year, but he was still able to develop. As he earned more ice time, his production increased. Before long, Buffalo couldn’t resist giving him his shot.
“It maybe took me, I would say, 10 games or so to kind of work up from, maybe playing on the third line and killing penalties, then playing on the top six and playing some power play,” Flynn recalled. “The month of October, I maybe went on a 15-game point streak, and really started playing good hockey. By the time I was called up, I knew that I had deserved it.”
Over the next 4½ seasons, Flynn split time between Buffalo and Montreal. The Montreal trade came as a bit of a surprise, but he looked forward to the opportunity to shift from a team that was battling more for a draft pick than a playoff spot. He was excited to play for a team that wanted a Cup.
“At that point in Buffalo, I was playing a lot of minutes, more minutes than I should be playing at an NHL level,” Flynn humbly acknowledged. “So, I go from playing probably second-line minutes right down to eight to 11 minutes on the fourth line. But that’s what I expected when I got traded. I knew I was going to go right into a good team’s fourth line, the role that I belonged on.”
In the 2017-18 season, Flynn found himself a full-time minor leaguer, with the Texas Stars, Dallas’ AHL affiliate. It certainly was not the career twist he wanted. In Texas, he had to stay positive and maintain his tenacious mentality.
“That was a frustrating season because I’d come off essentially playing five straight years in the NHL. Luckily, we ended up having a good team, good group of guys, ended up losing game seven of the finals.”
Third on Texas in scoring during the regular season and playoff run, Flynn showcased that, if given the chance, he could still be an offensive threat. The next season, St. Louis brought him into the organization. He was the final cut, but other wounds began to really hurt him. Flynn kept falling in and out of the lineup with injuries, culminating in a concussion that had him considering retirement.
As he pondered all of his options, the pull of Europe grew stronger. Flynn left behind a newborn son, and, as it would turn out, a future Cup champion organization (he has no regrets about that), but he was excited about the chance to start a new path and get top minutes again. He joined a Zug team in 2018 that would finish second in the standings. He helped contribute as Zug made a bid for the championship, falling in five against the top seed in the finals. With six points in 13 playoff games, Flynn proved that he belonged in one of Europe’s best leagues.
For the 2019-20 season, a middling, lower-budget team, Ambri-Piotta was looking for a fresh face to help make it a more legitimate contender. Ambri-Piotta offered Flynn a deal. Just like his debut season in Orono, he ranked second on the team in scoring. Wisely, Flynn pounced on a contract extension offered late into last season. “Fortunate that I had re-signed in February, right before kind of everything hit. If I hadn’t signed for a few more months, I’m sure the pay would have decreased quite a bit.”
This year, things haven’t been smooth for Ambri. COVID has of course interrupted a few games. Injuries have afflicted a few players, most notably Julius Nattinen. Flynn praised the Finn as someone who can score “basically at will.”
Still, Flynn has tried his best to pick up the slack. His 29 points (through March 10) put him second on the team and had him factoring in on about one-third of his team’s overall total of 90 goals. Ambri is not a powerhouse but is hanging onto a wildcard playoff spot. The last month will see the team fiercely battle to preserve it. There are few better players to have for a battle than Flynn.
Flynn knows it won’t be an easy road, but he hopes the team can find some health and consistency. “When you come down the home stretch, you usually start playing your best hockey if you want to be a playoff team. So, that’s obviously what we know we have to do,” he said.
Regardless, both this season and beyond, Flynn looks forward to what the future brings.
“I want to continue to play,” he said. “My passion to play hockey and drive to play is still there. I would like to stay in this league and with this team, so we’ll see how that shakes out.”
