Tom Gilbert

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = Edmonton Oilers
league = NHL
position = Defense
shoots = Right
former_teams =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 210
nickname = Gibby, Gilbs
nationality = USA
birth_date = Birth date and age|1983|1|10|mf=y
birth_place = Minneapolis, MN, USA
draft = 129th overall
draft_year = 2002
draft_team = Colorado Avalanche
career_start = 2006

Tom Gilbert (born January 10, 1983 in Bloomington, Minnesota) is an American ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Gilbert played his high school hockey for Minnesota powerhouse Bloomington Jefferson and was the captain his senior year (2001). That same year he switched to forward from defense, which he played as a sophomore and junior. He responded by scoring 4 goals in his first game at forward against a strong Hill-Murray team.

He was drafted in the fifth round, 129th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. He was traded to the Oilers on March 9, 2004, in exchange for goaltender Tommy Salo and a sixth-round pick in the 2005 draft.

Gilbert played junior hockey with the Chicago Steel of the USHL. He made his debut at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002. In the 2005–06 season, he ranked third on the team in points, and also scored the winning goal in the NCAA championship game against Boston College.

Gilbert made his pro debut in the 2006–07 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Through 33 games, he was tied for the team lead in points among defenceman.

Due to injuries, he was recalled in January 2007, and made his NHL debut on his 24th birthday in San Jose. Gilbert scored his first NHL goal on February 20, 2007, against Ottawa Senators netminder Martin Gerber in the final seconds of the game to send it to overtime.

On March 4, 2008, Gilbert surpassed Paul Coffey and Marc-André Bergeron for the Oilers' franchise record for most goals scored by a rookie defenceman with his 10th goal on the power play against the Nashville Predators goalie Dan Ellis.

On April 11, 2008, the Edmonton Oilers announced they signed Gilbert to a 6-year deal which will see the defenseman earn 4 million per year and keep him with the team through 2013–2014 season.

Career statistics

International play

Played for the United States in:

*2008 World Championships

International statistics

External links

*hockeydb|64499
* [http://www.edmontonoilers.com/roster/gilbert_tom/ edmontonoilers.com Profile]