Dennis Gilbert is headed back to Buffalo.
The veteran defenseman, who skated in three of Ottawa’s four playoff games against the Carolina Hurricanes this spring, has agreed to a one-year, one-way deal worth $850,000 with the Sabres, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger. It marks another summer exit from Ottawa for Gilbert, who spent a brief stretch with the Senators before landing back on the move.
Gilbert’s path through Ottawa has already been a winding one. The Senators picked him up from Buffalo in the 2025 NHL trade that sent Josh Norris the other way, along with Dylan Cozens. He appeared in just four games for Ottawa before the club let him go to free agency last summer.
From there, Gilbert signed with the Philadelphia Flyers for this season and began in the AHL. Ottawa brought him back in mid-November, sending minor leaguer Max Guenette to Philadelphia in the deal. Guenette remained unsigned and had not appeared in an NHL game for the Senators since 2023-24.
Once back in the organization, Gilbert reported to AHL Belleville and put up 12 assists in 31 games. He later earned another look in Ottawa, playing eight regular-season games before dressing for three more in the playoffs.
Drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round, 90th overall, in 2015, Gilbert has now logged NHL time with Chicago, Buffalo, Ottawa, the Calgary Flames and the Colorado Avalanche.
At 29, he still hasn’t locked down a permanent NHL job. His career-high came with Calgary in 2023-24, when he played 34 games, which makes the one-way nature of this new Sabres contract especially notable. Even if he ends up in the AHL, he’ll still be paid NHL money.
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