The Flyers continue to have a busy July 1, this time signing former Ottawa Senators defenseman Dennis Gilbert to a one-year deal worth $850,000. The Flyers made the announcement in tandem with their announcement regarding Noah Juulsen.
OFFICIAL: We've agreed to terms with defensemen Noah Juulsen (one-year deal worth $900K), and Dennis Gilbert (one-year deal worth $875K).
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 1, 2025
Details ➡️ https://t.co/rUV2bA5E8p pic.twitter.com/jAPJSESo9V
Gilbert, 28, has been a bit player on most teams in his NHL career, with a career high 34 games with Calgary in 2023-24 where he scored a goal and had six helpers. Like Noah Juulsen who the Flyers also signed today, Gilbert is a stay-at-home defenseman with a mere three goals and 17 assists for 20 points over 111 NHL games. Another 2015 Draft pick (third-round, 91st overall by Chicago), Gilbert turns 29 in October and is another big, beefy blueliner at 6’1″ and 216 pounds. He should provide more heft to the blueline which seems to be something the Flyers are trending towards given today’s signings.
Gilbert started his NHL career with the Blackhawks in 2018-19 when he played his first NHL game (and lone NHL game of his season). In 2019-20 he played 21 games where he had a goal and a pair of assists for Chicago. In 2020 he was traded to Colarado from Chicago along with Brandon Saad as Colorado sent Nikita Zadorov and Anton Lindholm to the Blackhawks. Gilbert’s time with the Avs was short-lived as he only played three games with them. In 2022, Gilbert signed with Calgary, playing 23 games with the Flames in 2022-23 and 34 games with them in 2023-24. Over those two years Gilbert had two goals and nine assists for 11 points. Buffalo signed him in 2024 but that stay lasted 25 games before he was shipped off to Ottawa along with Dylan Cozens with John Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker heading off to Buffalo.
The blueliner should fit into a bottom six pairing or a possible seventh defenseman. And again, it’s a low-risk proposition for the Flyers. If he’s a bust or has an injury-riddled season, Gilbert’s $850,000 is almost an afterthought. If he’s able to play 30 to 35 games for Philadelphia (or play more if the Flyers hit an injury bug on the back end) then he could be seen as a depth defenseman to a contending team, resulting in the Flyers adding another pick to their draft cupboards.
Dennis Gilbert isn’t going to be mistaken for Shayne Gostisbehere or Cale Makar. But if he’s able to use his size to separate opponents from the puck, Gilbert could be a reasonable addition should other players not be ready due to injury or simply needing more time in the minors to develop. Another solid, low-risk move by Briere that seems to make sense.
