The Buffalo Sabres assigned defenseman Dennis Gilbert to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans, on Friday, one day after recalling him for the start of the 2026-27 season.
Gilbert, 29, did not appear in Buffalo’s season-opening 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. He remained a healthy scratch while the team dealt with injuries on the blue line.
The recall had come after the Sabres placed defenseman Olen Zellweger on injured reserve with a concussion. Gilbert provided depth as the club prepared for its home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
Buffalo entered the season short-handed on defense after preseason injuries also sidelined Mattias Samuelsson and Conor Timmins. Those absences forced the organization to lean on its depth chart before the opener.
Gilbert rejoined the Sabres as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, signing a one-year contract worth $850,000. The deal brought the Buffalo native back after a brief stint with the Ottawa Senators.
In eight games with Ottawa last season, Gilbert recorded one assist along with 10 hits and 12 blocked shots. He spent most of the year in the AHL, where he posted 13 assists and 33 penalty minutes across 37 games split between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Belleville Senators.
His earlier time in Buffalo came during the 2024-25 season. Gilbert played 25 games for the Sabres that year, collecting five assists, 50 penalty minutes and 52 hits before a March trade sent him to Ottawa along with forward Dylan Cozens.
Across 119 career NHL games spanning seven seasons, Gilbert has three goals and 21 points. He has also accumulated 140 penalty minutes and 269 hits, numbers that reflect a physical, bottom-pairing role.
The left-shot defenseman was originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round of the 2015 draft, 91st overall. He has also appeared for the Colorado Avalanche and Calgary Flames during his professional career.
Gilbert averaged roughly 12 minutes of ice time per game over his NHL career and has generally served as an organizational depth option rather than a regular lineup fixture. His most recent NHL action came in limited duty with Ottawa.
The Sabres opened the season with a full roster before the Zellweger injury created the temporary opening. Once the club determined Gilbert would not dress against Columbus, the corresponding demotion cleared the way for other roster adjustments ahead of Saturday.
Rochester will now host Gilbert as he looks to stay ready for a possible return. The Americans begin their own schedule soon, giving the veteran a chance to log regular minutes in the AHL.
Buffalo’s defensive group remains fluid while Samuelsson works back from a lower-body issue and Zellweger recovers from the concussion. Coach Lindy Ruff has indicated some of those players could rejoin the lineup in the near term.
Gilbert’s contract carries no trade protection and leaves him eligible for waivers if the Sabres choose to move him later. For now, the assignment keeps him within the organization as insurance against further injuries.
The Sabres face Chicago at KeyBank Center on Saturday seeking their first win of the season after the opening-night defeat. Gilbert’s status will depend on how the blue line looks once the game-day roster is set.
