Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It's a reunion between the Buffalo Sabres and one of Western New York's own.
Shortly after the start of NHL Free Agency on Wednesday, the Sabres signed defenseman Dennis Gilbert to a one-year contract worth $850,000. TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger was the first to report the signing.
The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Conor Sheary and defenseman Dennis Gilbert to one-way contracts worth $850,000.
Additionally, the Buffalo Sabres have signed forwards Trevor Kuntar (two years) and Jason Polin (one year) to two-way contracts. pic.twitter.com/gXjZ29atSg
— Buffalo Sabres PR (@SabresPR) July 1, 2026
This is the second time the Sabres and Gilbert have come to terms on a deal in free agency. The Buffalo native first signed with the Sabres as an unrestricted free agent back in 2024.
During that 2024-25 season, Gilbert played 25 games with the Sabres, amassing five points as a bottom-pair defenseman. He was then traded at the NHL Trade Deadline as part of the Dylan Cozens trade to the Ottawa Senators.
Over the course of 119 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Sabres and Senators, Gilbert has scored just three goals and added 18 assists. He has also racked up 140 career penalty minutes, with 50 of them coming during his first tenure in Buffalo.
Gilbert was a former third-round pick of the Blackhawks in the 2015 NHL Draft. The 29-year-old played his high school hockey at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute before playing one season with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, and then making the jump to the USHL with the Chicago Steel.
He then went along to play three seasons at the University of Notre Dame before signing his entry-level contract.
The Buffalo native appears to be re-joining his hometown team
The Buffalo native appears to be re-joining his hometown team
