Tom Gilbert

Tom Gilbert
Gilbert with the Montreal Canadiens in January 2015
Born January 10, 1983
Bloomington, MN, USA
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 206 lb (93 kg; 14 st 10 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams 		Montreal Canadiens
Edmonton Oilers
Minnesota Wild
Florida Panthers
National team  United States
NHL Draft 129th overall, 2002
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2006–present

Thomas Kelly Gilbert (born January 10, 1983) is an American ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He has previously played for the Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild and the Florida Panthers.

Playing career

Amateur

Gilbert playing for the Edmonton Oilers.
Gilbert in 2009.

Gilbert played his high school hockey for Minnesota powerhouse Bloomington Jefferson and was the captain his senior year (2001). That same year he switched to forward from defense, which he played as a sophomore and junior. He responded by scoring 4 goals in his first game at forward against a strong Hill-Murray team.

Professional

Known by most scouts for his two-way ability in both ends of the ice, He was drafted in the fifth round, 129th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. He was traded to the Oilers on March 9, 2004, in exchange for struggling goaltender Tommy Salo and a sixth-round pick in the 2005 draft.[1]

Gilbert played junior hockey with the Chicago Steel of the USHL. He made his debut at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2002. In the 2005–06 season, he ranked third on the team in points, and also scored the winning goal in the NCAA championship game against Boston College.

Gilbert made his pro debut in the 2006–07 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Through 33 games, he was tied for the team lead in points among defenseman.

Due to injuries, he was recalled in January 2007, and made his NHL debut on his 24th birthday in San Jose. Gilbert scored his first NHL goal on February 20, 2007, against Ottawa Senators netminder Martin Gerber in the final seconds of the game to send it to overtime.

On March 4, 2008, Gilbert surpassed Paul Coffey and Marc-André Bergeron for the Oilers' franchise record for most goals scored by a rookie defenceman with his 10th goal on the power play against the Nashville Predators goalie Dan Ellis. On April 11, 2008, Gilbert signed a 6-year, $24 million contract extension with the Oilers.[2]

At the NHL trade deadline of the 2011–12 season, on February 27, 2012, Gilbert was traded by the Oilers to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Nick Schultz. Gilbert finished to season to contribute 5 assists in 20 games.

After the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, with the Wild experiencing cap constraints, Gilbert was used as compliance buyout of the remaining two-year of his contract, to be released as a free agent on July 3, 2013.[3]

In September 2013, Gilbert attended the Florida Panthers pre-season training camp as a free agent and later signed a one-year deal with them on September 28.[4] Gilbert established a regular position within the blueline for the Panthers in 2013–14, and by season's end produced his best season since 2009 with 28 points in 73 games.

On July 1, 2014, having redeemed his form with the Panthers, Gilbert signed a two-year contract as a free agent with the Montreal Canadiens.[5]

Career statistics

Gilbert at the 2008 IIHF World Championship.

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000–01 Chicago Steel USHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2001–02 Chicago Steel USHL 57 13 15 28 62 4 0 0 0 4
2002–03 University of Wisconsin–Madison WCHA 39 7 13 20 36 — — — — —
2003–04 University of Wisconsin–Madison WCHA 39 6 15 21 36 — — — — —
2004–05 University of Wisconsin–Madison WCHA 41 8 9 17 48 — — — — —
2005–06 University of Wisconsin–Madison WCHA 41 11 19 30 28 — — — — —
2006–07 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 48 4 26 30 32 10 1 7 8 10
2006–07 Edmonton Oilers NHL 12 1 5 6 0 — — — — —
2007–08 Edmonton Oilers NHL 82 13 20 33 20 — — — — —
2008–09 Edmonton Oilers NHL 82 5 40 45 26 — — — — —
2009–10 Edmonton Oilers NHL 82 5 26 31 16 — — — — —
2010–11 Edmonton Oilers NHL 79 6 20 26 32 — — — — —
2011–12 Edmonton Oilers NHL 47 3 14 17 12 — — — — —
2011–12 Minnesota Wild NHL 20 0 5 5 8 — — — — —
2012–13 Minnesota Wild NHL 43 3 10 13 18 5 0 0 0 2
2013–14 Florida Panthers NHL 73 3 25 28 18 — — — — —
NHL totals 520 39 165 204 150 5 0 0 0 2

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2008 United States WC 6th 7 1 3 4 0
Senior totals 7 1 3 4 0

Awards and honors

Award Year
All-WCHA Third Team 2004–05
All-WCHA First Team 2005–06
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2005–06
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 2006 [6]

References

  1. ↑ "Avs add depth and grit". ESPN. 2004-03-09. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  2. ↑ "Oilers sign Gilbert to six-year deal". Canada.com. 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  3. ↑ "Wild will use compliance buyout on Tom Gilbert". Fox Sports. 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  4. ↑ "Panthers invite Gilbert to training camp". Florida Panthers. 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  5. ↑ "Montreal Canadiens sign Gilbert, re-sign Weaver". National Hockey League. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  6. ↑ "NCAA Frozen Four Records". NCAA.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.

External links