OLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed forward Brian Gibbons to a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contract, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.
Gibbons, 26, has spent the past three seasons in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, tallying five goals, seven assists, 12 points, six penalty minutes and a +5 plus/minus rating in 41 games played for Pittsburgh and 30-60-90 in 168 appearances with the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 5-8, 170-pound center skated in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games during the 2014 postseason, registering 2-1-3, 2 PIM and a +2 rating. He also recorded 1-2-3, 18 PIM and a +2 rating in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games and competed in the AHL All-Star Game last season, dishing out two assists for Team AHL in a 7-2 victory over Färjestad BK.
A native of Braintree, Massachusetts, Gibbons won a NCAA title with the Boston College Eagles in 2008 and 2010. He was named to Hockey East’s All-Academic Team in 2009 and was a Second Team All-Star for the conference in 2011. In 160 career collegiate games, Gibbons recorded 56-108-164 and a +82 rating.
I'm not sure exactly what we'd do with him if he WAS brought back. I think he did a good job for us last year, but he's not a guy I saw as an every day player.
I can see why Columbus would sign him - he certainly played with more energy than a lot of his teammates did in the Columbus series. I liked his speed and energy, but he's not talented enough to score at the NHL level, and his size limits him in a fourth line role.
Froggy wrote:I'm not sure exactly what we'd do with him if he WAS brought back. I think he did a good job for us last year, but he's not a guy I saw as an every day player.
not even on a two way deal? It's what CBJ offered him.
Froggy wrote:I'm not sure exactly what we'd do with him if he WAS brought back. I think he did a good job for us last year, but he's not a guy I saw as an every day player.
not even on a two way deal? It's what CBJ offered him.
Well, maybe he wanted to play somewhere where he's more likely to play. I'm not going to fault management for not getting in a bidding war over a fringe nhl guy
Froggy wrote:I'm not sure exactly what we'd do with him if he WAS brought back. I think he did a good job for us last year, but he's not a guy I saw as an every day player.
not even on a two way deal? It's what CBJ offered him.
Well, maybe he wanted to play somewhere where he's more likely to play. I'm not going to fault management for not getting in a bidding war over a fringe nhl guy
I agree. No need to get in a bidding war for him, but it appears to be the standard one year/two way deal. I can't imagine it being more than a slight raise from his 75k/550k that he made last year.
Maybe there was no interest at all. Maybe he didn't want to come back.
I'm happy for him. I think there were far too many on this board that expected far too much from him. He's a great 3rd/4th liner and I would have liked to have him play that role and not be expected to be Crosby's winger, but if he wants to move on, then good for him.
It's a shame that a smart player leaves the organization. But we do need to get a little tougher to play against. Good luck to him, he's a fine player.
I liked Gibby. Extreme speed and can hit that tempo in a millisecond. Could play the PK and with that speed it made him a threat to steal an errant pass and go off to the races with the puck. As a PP guy you had to be aware of that which could detract you from your principle job on the power play. A fourth liner to be sure. But a potentially dangerous one when he becomes better at finishing.
It seems as though the Pens are intent on not resigning guys I like. Think Gibby & especially Nisky (would have let Letang walk and sign Nisky if I was GM)
One of the few players that can be called up and asked to fill in on a top line. His speed and skill are evident, just him being small hurts him. Granted he won't get you great point totals but he does have a defensive game.
no name wrote:One of the few players that can be called up and asked to fill in on a top line. His speed and skill are evident, just him being small hurts him. Granted he won't get you great point totals but he does have a defensive game.
Good for him, hope he gets a shot.
If what he dd was filling in on the top line I guess anyone could do it.
