Montreal Canadiens defenceman Tom Gilbert is off the trade market. The defenceman suffered a knee injury last week. He will require surgery and is done for the year. Gilbert was hurt in Friday Night’s 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Medical update: Tom Gilbert (left knee) – will require a season-ending surgery.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 23, 2016
Tom Gilbert Out For the Year
Gilbert, 33, signed a two year deal with the Montreal Canadiens as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2014. Gilbert had previously been a compliance buyout of the Minnesota Wild when they were looking for some extra salary cap space. Gilbert then walked onto the Florida Panthers as a free agent in 2013, putting up 28 points in 73 games with the Panthers.
While possessing solid puck possession and puck recovery in his own zone, Gilbert’s scoring numbers dropped with the Canadiens compared to his time on the Panthers and previously with the Oilers, scoring only 12 points in 72 games in 2014-15. Gilbert’s position dropped to the third pairing in Montreal and his scoring took a deeper dive, putting up only one goal and one assist in 2015-16.
Gilbert was making $2.8 million with the Canadiens this season. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
We will have more details on this trade as it develops. Follow @LastWordonPuck and Lastwordonsports.com for all of your NHL trade deadline news and analysis.
Main Photo: MONTREAL, QC – MAY 01: Tom Gilbert #77 of the Montreal Canadiens moves the puck past Cedric Paquette #13 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 1, 2015 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in the second overtime period and take a 1-0 lead in the series. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
