The Carolina Hurricanes have signed Brian Gibbons to a one-year, two-way contract to add some depth to the forward position. Gibbons will earn $725K at the NHL level and secured a $225K guarantee.
Now 31, Gibbons has scratched and clawed his way to 189 games in the NHL over the years including a career-high 64 last season split between the Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators. The undrafted forward spent four years lighting the lamp at Boston College before earning an NHL deal with the Penguins, but still failed to actually make it to Pittsburgh for several years. In those 189 games Gibbons has just 67 points, but showed his scoring touch during the 2017-18 season with the New Jersey Devils where he was a dynamo on the penalty kill recording five short-handed points.
Even if he doesn’t get much of an opportunity in Carolina, it’s hard to pass up an opportunity that at worst will put you with the defending Calder Cup champions. The Charlotte Checkers have been an excellent AHL organization for some time, and if Gibbons ends up failing to grab a roster spot in Carolina he’ll be an important piece as they try to defend their title.