Dennis Gilbert (ice hockey)

Last updated
Dennis Gilbert
Dennis Gilbert - Calgary Wranglers - 2022.jpg
Gilbert with the Calgary Wranglers in 2022
Born (1996-10-30) October 30, 1996 (age 28)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Ottawa Senators
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Calgary Flames
Buffalo Sabres
NHL draft 91st overall, 2015
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2018present

Dennis Gilbert (born October 30, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks, 90th overall, in the 2015 NHL entry draft.

Contents

Early life

Gilbert was born on October 30, 1996, [1] to parents Dennis Sr. and Kim Gilbert. [2] Growing up, he refused to play hockey year round in order to play lacrosse and football. [3]

Playing career

Gilbert played junior hockey with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League (USHL) before he was selected in the third round, 90th overall, in the 2015 NHL entry draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Gilbert played collegiate hockey for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the University of Notre Dame, originally of Hockey East. [4] In his sophomore season with the Fighting Irish in 2016–17, Gilbert helped guide Notre Dame to the Frozen Four and was announced as the Hockey East's Best Defensive Defenseman and a Hockey East Third Team All-Star.

Gilbert concluded his collegiate career following his junior season with the Fighting Irish in the 2017–18 season, turning professional by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on April 14, 2018. [5]

Entering the final year of his entry-level deal on October 10, 2020, Gilbert was traded by the Blackhawks, alongside Brandon Saad, to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Anton Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. [6]

Following two seasons in Colorado, Gilbert left as a free agent and was signed to a two-year, $1.525 million contract with the Calgary Flames on July 13, 2022. [7]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Flames, Gilbert opted to leave as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, $825,000 contract with hometown club, the Buffalo Sabres, on July 1, 2024. [8]

On March 7, 2025, Gilbert was traded to the Ottawa Senators along with Dylan Cozens and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft in exchange for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. [9]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2011–12 St. Joseph's Collegiate USHS 274592
2012–13St. Joseph's CollegiateUSHS281282021
2013–14 Buffalo Jr. Sabres OJHL 354131736100338
2014–15 Chicago Steel USHL 594232789
2015–16 Notre Dame HE 37281034
2016–17 Notre DameHE400222222
2017–18 Notre Dame B1G 39461016
2018–19 Rockford IceHogs AHL 63591467
2018–19 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 10002
2019–20 Rockford IceHogsAHL3016746
2019–20 Chicago BlackhawksNHL2112338
2020–21 Colorado Avalanche NHL30005
2020–21 Colorado Eagles AHL171784
2021–22 Colorado EaglesAHL526172341
2022–23 Calgary Wranglers AHL2623541
2022–23 Calgary Flames NHL2313427
2023–24 Calgary FlamesNHL3416716
2024–25 Buffalo Sabres NHL2505550
2024-25 Ottawa Senators NHL00000
NHL totals10731619138

Awards and honors

AwardYear
USHL
All-Rookie Team 2015
College
HE Best Defensive Defenseman 2017
HE Third All-Star Team2017

References

  1. "Dennis Gilbert". Elite Prospects. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  2. "#4 DENNIS GILBERT". University of Notre Dame. July 9, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  3. Gleason, Becky (April 20, 2018). "Bucky Gleason: Former St. Joe's star Dennis Gilbert gets last laugh after signing with Blackhawks". Buffalo News. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  4. "Buffalo native Dennis Gilbert recalled by Blackhawks, plays in first NHL game". The Buffalo News. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  5. "Blackhawks agree to terms with Dennis Gilbert". Chicago Blackhawks. April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  6. "Avalanche acquires Saad, Gilbert from Chicago". Colorado Avalanche. October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  7. "Flames sign four free agents, re-sign pair of defenceman". Calgary Flames. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  8. "Buffalo native Gilbert joins Sabres". Buffalo Sabres. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  9. Staff, Sportsnet (2025-03-07). "Senators acquiring Dylan Cozens from Sabres for Josh Norris". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2025-03-07.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman
2016–17
Succeeded by