# Dennis Gilbert (ice hockey)

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.

## Early life

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

## 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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2011–12 | St. Joseph's Collegiate | USHS | 27 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | St. Joseph's Collegiate | USHS | 28 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | Buffalo Jr. Sabres | OJHL | 35 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 36 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 2014–15 | Chicago Steel | USHL | 59 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | Notre Dame | HE | 37 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | Notre Dame | HE | 40 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18 | Notre Dame | B1G | 39 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018–19 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 63 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018–19 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 30 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 21 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Colorado Eagles | AHL | 17 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Colorado Eagles | AHL | 52 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL | 26 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 23 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 34 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024–25 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 25 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 107 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 138 | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and honors

| Award | Year |
| USHL ||
| All-Rookie Team | 2015 |
| College ||
| HE Best Defensive Defenseman | 2017 |
| HE Third All-Star Team | 2017 |