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As an August 1997 birthdate, Dennis Gilbert is one of the younger players eligible for this year’s NHL Draft. The Williamsville, New York native was a seventh round USHL draft pick and spent the year with the Chicago Steel. He made an impression as a 17-year-old in the USHL and was named to the league’s all rookie-team. With four goals and 27 points in 59 games, Gilbert led all defenders on the Steel, and finished 14th in scoring amongst USHL defencemen. Gilbert had originally committed to play his college hockey close to home at Niagara University. However he has changed his mind and is now committed to attend the University of Notre Dame next year. Gilbert has not been drafted in any CHL draft, as most teams have assumed his commitment to go the NCAA route is very strong. Gilbert was a three-sport star in his local Buffalo high school, also playing football and lacrosse, before deciding to pursue a hockey career.
Dennis Gilbert
Defense — shoots Left
Born Oct 30 1996 — Williamsville, NY
Height 6.03 — Weight 201 [191 cm/91 kg]
Dennis Gilbert is an outstanding skater, especially for a big defenceman as he’s listed at 6’3″. He has outstanding edgework, agility and pivots, and this allows him to cover huge areas of ice both offensively and defensively. His speed and acceleration is also very good in both directions, and this allows him to lead or join the rush, or to pinch in at the blue line, and get back defensively. Gilbert also has good lower body strength and balance. He is tough to knock off the puck, and able to win battles along the boards and clear the front of the net as he establishes his position and has good leverage.
Coming into the season, Dennis Gilbert was seen as a stay at home defensive defenceman prospect. However, he has developed his offensive and puck moving abilities as the season has gone on and now shows the potential to be a two-way defender. Gilbert has a good slapshot and keeps it low allowing for teammates to get tip ins and rebounds. He uses his agility to walk the line and open up shooting and passing lanes. He also shows a good first pass out of his zone, and the ability to make some nice passes from the blueline. That said he is more of a trigger man at the point, then a quarterback type. Gilbert can use his strong skating skills to skate the puck out of danger in his own end, and get the transition game started. He does not often seem to lead the rush into the offensive zone, but is has been known to join as a trailer and is ready to unleash a strong, accurate wrist shot. If there is a critique about his offensive game, it is in his hockey sense. He is still a little hesitant to make pinches, or join the rush at times when he has a good opportunity. He also does not read the play well enough to quarterback the powerplay offensively. This could develop though as he is just finding his game offensively.
Defensively Gilbert shows good positioning and uses his skating to maintain excellent gap control and funnel attackers to the outside. He uses his size and active stick to cut down on passing and shooting lanes. Gilbert is tough and aggressive in the corners, and in front of the net, using his size and strength to his full advantage. Despite being a USHL rookie, Gilbert was used in all situations and played big minutes for the Steel. He acquitted himself well playing against the other team’s top lines, and on the first unit on the penalty kill. He could again use some experience at reading the play and at taking better positions at times.
Gilbert has the potential to be a top four defenceman in the NHL, but must work to develop his ability to read the play and make good reads. At this point his game is similar to Marco Scandella of the Minnesota Wild, but this is a style comparison and not a talent based one.
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