DENVER – Like every hockey-playing kid in Minnesota of a certain age, Bobby Brink grew up in Minnetonka dreaming of wearing two sweaters someday: the blue and white of the local high school, and the red and green of the Wild.
And typical of young Wild fans of the late 2000s, the 6-year old Brink idolized Marian Gaborik, scoring goals and winning games while wearing jersey number 10 in Minnesota.
In a bit of a full-circle moment for Brink, 24, he made his Wild debut on a Friday night in Las Vegas, wearing a red and green sweater with number 10 on the back.
“It’s obviously an honor to wear this jersey, growing up a Wild fan,” said Brink, after logging 18 shifts in the Wild’s 4-2 win over Vegas. “It was a special day.”
And a long, long day, to be sure.
On Thursday night in Philadelphia, Brink had played 20 minutes for the Flyers in a home loss to Utah. He woke up Friday morning to the news that he was headed to the Wild in a trade that sent defenseman David Jiricek to the Flyers.
With his phone blowing up, Brink headed to the Philadelphia airport for a hastily-arranged cross-country flight to Nevada. It was only then, waiting at the gate to board his plane, did he realize he’d forgotten to check in with his biggest fan.
“It was such a whirlwind that I was trying to pack up and I had phone calls from everyone,” he said. “So I called my dad from the airport, maybe three, four hours after I was traded.”
If Brink’s name is familiar to Twin Cities hockey fans, it could be from his leading Minnetonka to the 2018 state title. Or, if you’re a generation older, you may recall his father Andy, who is originally from Bemidji, won state prep and amateur golf titles in Minnesota, and skated four years at forward for Doug Woog’s U of M teams in the 1990s, playing in a pair of Frozen Fours for the Gophers.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin is from Massachusetts and spent part of his career playing with the Boston Bruins, so he understands the additional pressure that can come from playing “at home” close to friends and family. When he called Brink to welcome him to the Wild, Guerin said he laid out some very clear expectations for the hockey homecoming.
“The first thing I told him is this is not a family reunion. This is not to get together with your buddies,” Guerin said. “Tell your buddies and your family, they know where the ticket office is. Buy your own friggin’ tickets, OK?…He’s coming here to work, and to be part of the Wild and to win.”
Brink joins the Wild with some familiarity already, having skated with Matt Boldy – one of his linemates for his Minnesota debut – on USA Hockey teams in the past.
“Such a smart player, the way he thinks the game and controls the puck and creates space for others,” Boldly said. “I’m super excited for him, and he’s quite the character too. So hopefully he brings some energy to the room.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 13: Bobby Brink #10 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates his goal during the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes at Xfinity Mobile Arena on December 13, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Related Articles
Tough choices coming with Wild roster restocked at trade deadline
New additions look like aces as Wild win in Vegas
Bill Guerin says Wild ‘checked a lot of boxes’ at NHL trade deadline
Wild pull off trade with Blackhawks to reunite Foligno brothers in Minnesota
Wild bring Bobby Brink home to Minnesota in trade deadline deal
Leave a Reply