Dennis Gilbert

Dennis Gilbert Bio

Dennis Gilbert is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. The Buffalo, New York native was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks 90th overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft and has also played for the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, and Buffalo Sabres. Gilbert developed at the University of Notre Dame before turning professional in 2018, and he has built a reputation as a reliable, physically responsible blue liner capable of filling depth roles across multiple organizations.

Over his professional career, Gilbert has become a journeyman defenseman whose steady defensive game and versatility have allowed him to find a role on six different organizations. He is known for his size and strength as a 6-foot-2, 198-pound defender who shoots left and uses his frame effectively along the boards and in front of the net. His willingness to adapt to new systems and his experience at multiple stops have made him a valued depth piece for every team that has employed him.

Early Life and Background

Dennis Gilbert was born on October 30, 1996, in Buffalo, New York, to parents Dennis Sr. and Kim Gilbert. He grew up refusing to specialize in hockey year-round, instead choosing to play lacrosse and football alongside his hockey commitments. As a sophomore in high school, he served as the backup quarterback to Chad Kelly, an experience he credits with helping develop his overall athleticism and spatial awareness on the ice.

Playing multiple sports through high school gave Gilbert a physical and tactical foundation that many hockey-only players do not develop. He has said that the cross-training helped him become a better athlete overall and shaped the physical style of play he eventually brought to professional hockey. His early commitment to balancing different sports reflected a maturity and long-term perspective on athletic development that would serve him well through the demands of professional hockey.

Path to National Hockey League

Gilbert began his junior hockey career as a defenseman with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the Ontario Junior Hockey League before graduating to the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League. During his only USHL season in 2014-15, he scored four goals and 23 assists for 27 points in 59 games, drawing attention from college programs and NHL scouts alike. His performance with the Steel earned him a commitment to play college hockey at the University of Notre Dame, and the Chicago Blackhawks selected him 90th overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft shortly thereafter.

At Notre Dame, Gilbert evolved into one of the top defensive defensemen in college hockey. As a sophomore in 2016-17, he recorded 22 assists in 40 appearances and helped guide the Fighting Irish to the Frozen Four, earning Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman and Hockey East Third Team All-Star honors. He concluded his collegiate career following the 2017-18 season, in which Notre Dame won the Big Ten championship and advanced to the Frozen Four championship game before falling to Minnesota-Duluth. The Blackhawks signed him to a three-year entry-level contract on April 14, 2018, sending him to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League to begin his professional career.

Dennis Gilbert Career

Early Career (2018-2020)

Gilbert spent the 2018-19 season with the Rockford IceHogs, appearing in 63 games and recording five goals and 14 points at the AHL level. The Blackhawks recalled him on April 3, 2019, and he made his NHL debut that same night in a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues. He split the 2019-20 season between Rockford and Chicago, making 30 appearances in the AHL and 21 games with the Blackhawks. He scored his first NHL goal on December 22, 2019, in a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders, and finished his time with Chicago having recorded one goal and three points in 21 NHL games.

Chicago Blackhawks Era (2018-2020)

Gilbert turned professional after the Blackhawks selected him 90th overall in 2015, and he spent two seasons developing in their AHL system before getting his NHL opportunity. His debut in April 2019 came after Chicago had been eliminated from playoff contention, giving management the flexibility to evaluate young players without the pressure of a postseason push. He showed flashes of his defensive capabilities during those brief NHL appearances, though he was still finding his rhythm at the highest level of the sport.

During the 2019-20 season, Gilbert earned his first NHL point on December 12, 2019, assisting on a goal by Jonathan Toews in a game against the Arizona Coyotes. He scored his first NHL goal ten days later against the New York Islanders, marking a personal milestone in a season that was ultimately cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. His willingness to bounce between the AHL and NHL during this period demonstrated the kind of professionalism and adaptability that would define his career moving forward.

Colorado Avalanche Era (2020-2022)

On October 10, 2020, the Blackhawks traded Gilbert and forward Brandon Saad to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defensemen Anton Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov, giving him a fresh start with a Stanley Cup contender. He made his Avalanche debut on January 19, 2021, stepping into the lineup after the team traded Ian Cole to Minnesota earlier that day. His time with Colorado was severely disrupted just weeks later when he suffered facial injuries in a fight with Keegan Kolesar on February 16, requiring facial reconstruction surgery and causing him to miss four weeks of game action.

Despite the injury setback, Gilbert played three games for Colorado during the 2020-21 season and spent additional time with the AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. The Avalanche re-signed him to a one-year contract on August 16, 2021, but he started the 2021-22 season on waivers and was assigned to the Eagles after going unclaimed. In 52 games with the Eagles, he scored six goals and 23 points, putting up career AHL offensive numbers and maintaining his development despite not cracking Colorado’s NHL roster.

Calgary Flames Era (2022-2024)

As an unrestricted free agent following two seasons in Colorado, Gilbert signed a two-year contract with the Calgary Flames on July 13, 2022. After going unclaimed on waivers to begin the 2022-23 season, he was assigned to the Calgary Wranglers, the Flames’ AHL affiliate, before being recalled on November 6. He made his Flames debut on November 8 in a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils, and he recorded his first point with the team on November 23, assisting on a goal by Dillon Dube. He scored his first goal as a Flame on February 11, 2023, in a 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, finishing the season with one goal and four points in 23 NHL games.

In his second season with Calgary in 2023-24, Gilbert made the Flames’ opening night roster and worked his way into a consistent role in the lineup. A head injury suffered on January 4 from a hit by Philip Tomasino landed him on injured reserve and sidelined him for ten games. When he returned on March 2, the Flames had acquired three new defensemen during the preceding weeks, which reduced his ice time and opportunity down the stretch. He finished the season with one goal and seven points in 34 games as the Flames moved in a new defensive direction.

Buffalo Sabres Era (2024-2025)

After his contract with the Flames expired, Gilbert returned to his hometown as an unrestricted free agent and signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2024. He made his Sabres debut in their second game of the 2024-25 season, a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on October 12, and gradually earned more responsibility in the lineup. He recorded his first point with the Sabres on December 7, assisting on a goal by Tyson Kozak in a 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club, and finished his time in Buffalo having tallied five assists in 25 games played.

On March 7, 2025, the Sabres traded Gilbert, forward Dylan Cozens, and a 2026 second-round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. The trade brought Gilbert back to the Eastern Conference and reunited him with a new set of teammates in the nation’s capital. He made his Senators debut the following night on March 8 in a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers, stepping immediately into the lineup following the transaction. He recorded his first point with Ottawa on March 9, assisting on a goal by Nick Cousins in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, and he closed out the 2024-25 campaign with one assist through four appearances with the Senators.

Driving Style and Strengths

Gilbert is a left-shooting defenseman whose game is built around defensive reliability, physical engagement, and a calm presence in his own zone. Standing 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, he uses his size effectively along the boards, in front of the net, and during board battles to disrupt opposing forechecks and clear the crease. His college development at Notre Dame, where he was recognized as the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman, established the foundation of his defensive awareness and positioning instincts that continue to define his game in the NHL.

Notable Events and Milestones

Gilbert reached the Frozen Four twice during his time at Notre Dame, helping the Fighting Irish reach the 2018 championship game and losing to Minnesota-Duluth in the final. He made his NHL debut with Chicago in April 2019 and scored his first NHL goal against the New York Islanders later that year. Surviving a facial reconstruction surgery and returning to the ice within weeks demonstrated the mental toughness and resilience that have characterized his career. Making his Senators debut the night after being traded in March 2025 underscored his ability to adapt quickly to new environments at the highest level.

Dennis Gilbert Career Wins

Dennis Gilbert has compiled regular-season and playoff appearances across six NHL organizations, with his career spanning stints in Chicago, Colorado, Calgary, Buffalo, Ottawa, and Philadelphia. His NHL career totals reflect the production of a depth defenseman who has contributed steadily across multiple teams and systems, with his offensive output coming primarily from secondary assists and his defensive play providing the backbone of his value. He has also recorded meaningful production in the AHL, where he has played the majority of his professional games during his development years and when he has been assigned to affiliate clubs.

National Hockey League Highlights

Gilbert has recorded regular-season NHL games with four teams, beginning with the Chicago Blackhawks and continuing through stints with the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, and Buffalo Sabres. He scored his first NHL goal on December 22, 2019, against the New York Islanders while playing for Chicago, and he reached a career-high in NHL games played during the 2023-24 season with the Flames. He has also participated in NHL playoff action, making his playoff debut with the Ottawa Senators in the 2026 opening round against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Other Wins and Performances

In the AHL, Gilbert has posted career offensive production across stints with the Rockford IceHogs, Colorado Eagles, and Calgary Wranglers. His 27-point season with the Chicago Steel in 2014-15 and his 23-point campaign with the Colorado Eagles in 2021-22 stand as highlights of his time in North American developmental leagues. During his collegiate career at Notre Dame, he helped the Fighting Irish win the Big Ten championship in 2018 and reach the Frozen Four championship game, cementing his legacy as one of the program’s more reliable defensive performers of his era.

Dennis Gilbert Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Dennis Gilbert was born in Buffalo, New York, to parents Dennis Sr. and Kim Gilbert. His Buffalo upbringing placed him in a strong hockey region, and his father Dennis Sr. has been cited as an early influence on his approach to the game. Growing up in western New York exposed Gilbert to the passionate hockey culture of the area, which helped foster his early interest in the sport even as he balanced multiple athletic pursuits through his school years.

Personal Life

Dennis Gilbert attended the University of Notre Dame, where he played college hockey before leaving after his junior season to pursue a professional career. His decision to attend Notre Dame connected him to one of the most respected hockey programs in college athletics and provided him with the academic and athletic infrastructure necessary to develop into an NHL defenseman. Beyond hockey, he has spoken about the value of his multi-sport background in high school and the role that experience played in shaping him as a competitor at the professional level.

2025 Season Performance

Dennis Gilbert began the 2024-25 season with the Buffalo Sabres following his signing as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2024. He made his Sabres debut in their second game of the season, a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on October 12, and he gradually carved out a role in the lineup over the opening months. He finished his time in Buffalo with five assists in 25 games played before the Sabres traded him to the Ottawa Senators on March 7, 2025, along with forward Dylan Cozens and a second-round draft pick, in exchange for forward Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.

Gilbert made his Senators debut the following night on March 8 in a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers, stepping directly into the lineup following the mid-season trade. He recorded his first point with Ottawa on March 9, assisting on a goal by Nick Cousins in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, and he concluded the season with one assist through four appearances with the team. Under contract with Ottawa through 2026, Gilbert finished the 2025 portion of the season as a depth defenseman who had already demonstrated his ability to contribute in limited action following an in-season change of scenery.