Brad Navin

History

2008-09: Brad Navin scored 25 goals with 18 assists in 16 games as a sophomore for Waupaca High School (Wisconsin).

2009-10: Navin led all scorers in Wisconsin high school hockey with 53 goals and 39 assists in 25 games for Waupaca. Navin scored 12 goals on the power play and 9 short-handed goals.

2010-11: Navin was the leading scorer for Team Wisconsin in the fall Upper Midwest Elite Hockey League. In 24 games, he scored 20 goals with 10 assists and scored eight times on the power play. Navin was off to a rapid start in his senior year at Waupaca, scoring 29 goals with 23 assists in just 14 games before he suffered a season-ending knee injury. Navin signed a letter of intent in May to play college hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers. Navin was ranked 163rd among North American skaters by Central Scouting and was selected by the Sabres in the 7th round (197th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

2011-12: Navin made the jump directly from high school hockey to college – skating in 36 of 37 games for the University of Wisconsin as a freshman. Playing in primarily a third and fourth line role in his first season, he scored 3 goals with 3 assists and was minus-five with 16 penalty minutes. The Badgers were 10th in the WCHA, just their third season finishing under-.500 since head coach Mike Eaves took over in 2002-03.

 

Talent Analysis

Navin is a lanky goal-scorer who needs to pack on more muscle to succeed. His greatest asset is his shot, which he uses often, though he prefers to work his way through tight corners and find openings rather than finding the soft areas of the ice and waiting for a pass. While he skates well for a big center, it is one of his most obvious weaknesses.

 

Future

Navin is a long-term project and will likely spend a couple more years with the Wisconsin Badgers and in the AHL.