Dennis Gilbert Bio
Dennis Gilbert is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who plays 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, and has also played for the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, and Buffalo Sabres. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 198 pounds, Gilbert is recognized for his steady defensive play and willingness to provide physicality in his own zone.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Gilbert developed into a reliable two-way defenseman through junior and collegiate programs before beginning his NHL career in 2018. He attended the University of Notre Dame, where he played three seasons of college hockey, and has since moved between several NHL organizations while spending time with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates.
Early Life and Background
Dennis Gilbert was born on October 30, 1996, in Buffalo, New York. He is the son of Dennis Sr. and Kim Gilbert, who raised him in the same New York region where he would later join the Buffalo Sabres. Growing up in a sports-oriented household, Gilbert was introduced to athletics at an early age and developed a passion for competition that carried into his teenage years.
As a young athlete, Gilbert did not focus solely on hockey. He deliberately chose to play lacrosse and football alongside his hockey commitments, and during his sophomore year of high school, he served as the backup quarterback to Chad Kelly. This diverse athletic background helped him develop the physical tools and competitive mindset that would later shape his identity as a defenseman.
Path to Hockey
Gilbert began his competitive hockey journey with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he established himself as a reliable junior defenseman. He then moved to the United States Hockey League (USHL) to play for the Chicago Steel, finishing his only USHL season in 2014-15 with four goals and 23 assists for 27 points across 59 games. While with the Steel, he committed to play college hockey at the University of Notre Dame.
Gilbert joined the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the 2015-16 season and played three years of college hockey. In 37 games as a freshman, he recorded two goals and ten points. During his sophomore season in 2016-17, he appeared in 40 games and tallied 22 assists while helping Notre Dame reach the Frozen Four, where the team lost to the Denver Pioneers. His strong defensive work that year earned him recognition as the Hockey East’s Best Defensive Defenseman and a Hockey East Third Team All-Star. After his junior season in 2017-18, Gilbert left Notre Dame to begin his professional career, having helped the team win the Big Ten championship and reach the 2018 Frozen Four championship game.
Dennis Gilbert Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
After his junior year at Notre Dame, Gilbert signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on April 14, 2018. He was assigned to the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, for the 2018-19 season, where he played 63 games and recorded five goals and 14 points. He made his NHL debut on April 3, 2019, in a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues, and was returned to the AHL the following day.
In the 2019-20 season, Gilbert split his time between Rockford and Chicago. He recorded his first NHL point on December 12, assisting on Jonathan Toews’ second-period goal in a 5-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes, and scored his first NHL goal on December 22 in a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Before the NHL paused play in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he had played 21 games with Chicago, tallying one goal and three points.
Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche Years (2018-2022)
On October 10, 2020, Gilbert was traded by the Blackhawks, alongside forward Brandon Saad, to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defensemen Anton Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. He made his Avalanche debut on January 19, 2021, replacing Ian Cole in the lineup after Cole was traded earlier that day. His time in Colorado was disrupted by facial reconstruction surgery following a fight with Keegan Kolesar, which kept him out of action for several weeks. He was reassigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on March 16 and finished that stretch with the affiliate.
Gilbert re-signed with the Avalanche for one year in August 2021 but did not make the NHL roster that fall. He was placed on waivers and assigned to the Eagles, where he played 52 games and recorded six goals and 23 points during the 2021-22 season.
Calgary Flames Era (2022-2024)
Following two seasons in Colorado, Gilbert signed a two-year, $1.525 million contract with the Calgary Flames as an unrestricted free agent on July 13, 2022. He began the 2022-23 season in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers before being recalled by the Flames on November 6. He made his Flames debut on November 8 in a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils and scored his first goal for Calgary on February 11, 2023, in a 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
In 2023-24, Gilbert made the Flames’ opening night roster and played a regular role until January 4, 2024, when he suffered a head injury following a hit by Philip Tomasino. He missed ten games before returning on March 2. Despite the interruption, he finished the season with one goal and seven points in 34 games.
Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators Era (2024-Present)
After the Calgary contract expired, Gilbert signed a one-year, $825,000 deal with his hometown Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2024. He made his Sabres debut on October 12 in a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers, replacing Sam Lafferty in the lineup. He recorded his first point with the Sabres assisting on Tyson Kozak’s goal in a 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on December 7, and finished the year with five assists in 25 games.
On March 7, 2025, Gilbert was traded to the Ottawa Senators along with forward Dylan Cozens and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft in exchange for forward Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. He debuted for Ottawa the next night in a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers and finished the season with one assist in four games. After a short detour through the Philadelphia Flyers organization, Gilbert was traded back to the Senators on November 17 and rejoined Ottawa’s NHL roster. He was later recalled on March 9, 2026, following an injury to star defenseman Jake Sanderson, and made his NHL playoff debut on April 18, 2026, in the first round of the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Playing Style and Strengths
Gilbert is best known for his defensive reliability, willingness to engage physically, and steady penalty-killing presence. He uses his 6-foot-2 frame to win battles along the boards and clear the front of his net, while his composure under pressure allows coaches to trust him in tight game situations. His ability to slot into a lineup as a steady third-pair option has made him a dependable depth defenseman throughout his NHL career.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Gilbert’s signature moments came on December 22, 2019, when he scored his first NHL goal in a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Another highlight occurred on March 7, 2025, when he was part of a significant midseason trade package that sent him to the Ottawa Senators. Most recently, he made his NHL playoff debut on April 18, 2026, marking his first postseason appearance after several seasons of professional hockey.
Dennis Gilbert Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Dennis Gilbert was raised in Buffalo, New York, by his parents, Dennis Sr. and Kim Gilbert. His upbringing in a sports-focused household shaped his path into competitive athletics, including hockey, lacrosse, and football. He has continued to maintain strong ties to his hometown, a connection that became especially clear when he signed with the Buffalo Sabres in 2024.
Gilbert has kept most of his personal life private, and details about a spouse or children have not been publicly confirmed. His focus throughout his professional career has remained on hockey, where he has continued to build a reputation as a dependable team-first defenseman.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a transitional year for Gilbert. After finishing the 2024-25 campaign with the Ottawa Senators following his March trade from Buffalo, he signed a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 1, 2025. He made the Flyers’ opening night roster but did not appear in a game before being assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL on October 13. In six games with Lehigh Valley, he recorded one assist before a midseason trade brought him back to the Senators organization.
After rejoining Ottawa through a November 17 trade that sent Maxence Guenette to Philadelphia, Gilbert spent time recovering from an injury with Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators. He was recalled by Ottawa on November 29 and made his NHL season debut on December 4 in a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers. He finished the year appearing in eight NHL games with Ottawa and 31 AHL games with Belleville, recording 12 assists at the AHL level.
With Ottawa qualifying for the 2026 NHL playoffs and squaring off against the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round, Gilbert made his playoff debut on April 18, 2026, completing a long-anticipated postseason milestone. Although the Senators were swept in the first round, Gilbert’s presence on the roster reflected his continued value as a steady, depth defenseman capable of stepping into the lineup when needed.
