Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd year, undrafted center Brian Gibbons(9) is coming off a career year and once this incredible 2013/2014 season ride is complete he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his thus far brief pro career.
The super-small 5’8″ 170 lbs. forward played his first NHL games this year. He skated 41 contests, putting up a respectable 5 goals and 12 assists with a +5 rating; and then added another tally and pair of helpers in 8 Stanley Cup Playoff games before being eliminated.
He was able to be returned to the farm club Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to help their postseason quest.
Already paying dividends, in 6 Calder Cup Playoff tilts he’s scored one highlight reel goal and two assists, while bringing increased energy and speed to an already fast, high scoring team.
He has a pedigree for winning as he won two NCAA Championships in 2008 and 2010 with Boston College Eagles.
He was already having a pretty amazing minor league campaign in his third season of play. In his first two years, he scored an equal 30 points over the course of 70 games. Then in the current run he equaled his rookie scoring numbers (9-11-30) in just 28 match-ups, which easily got him noticed for his first recall.
The parent club would be smart to put this one to bed quickly and offer him a tw0-year, potentially one-way contract extension to stay.