Nathan Gerbe

Last updated

Nathan Gerbe
Nathan Gerbe 2013.jpg
Gerbe with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2013
Born (1987-07-24) July 24, 1987 (age 36)
Oxford, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Center
Shot Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Carolina Hurricanes
Genève-Servette HC
Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL Draft 142nd overall, 2005
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 20082021

Nathan David Gerbe (born July 24, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey player. Selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Gerbe played for the Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets during his National Hockey League (NHL) career. At 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) tall, Gerbe is the shortest skater in NHL history, and the second shortest player in NHL history behind goaltender Roy Worters.

Contents

Playing career

Amateur

Gerbe in April 2008 2008-04-29 bc hoc 04web (Nathan Gerbe) (1).jpg
Gerbe in April 2008

As a youth, Gerbe played in the 2001 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Honeybaked minor ice hockey team. [1]

Gerbe played for the Boston College Eagles of the Hockey East conference in the NCAA, and was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL) with the 142nd pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. [2]

In the 2008 Frozen Four, he scored five goals in the final two games, leading his team to the championship, and was named the tournament's most outstanding player. [3] He was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in the 2007–08 season. [4]

Professional

On May 6, 2008, Gerbe signed his first professional contract, a three-year, entry-level with the Buffalo Sabres. [5] During his tenure with the Sabres, he was referred to as a "Tasmanian Devil," a reference to his smaller size, but rough style of play. [6] In an interview, Gerbe revealed that he idolized NHL player Martin St. Louis who was also known for his small size and on-ice ability. [7] He was assigned to American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate to start the 2008–09 season, [8] but after the Sabres slumped early, on December 6, 2008, he was recalled by the team, [9] playing in his first NHL regular season game, a 4–3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. [10] On December 13, Gerbe recorded his first NHL point against the New Jersey Devils by assisting a Drew Stafford goal. [11] Gerbe was returned to the Sabres AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, after six games. [12] He was named to the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic, but could not play due to injury. [13] [14] He was awarded the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award for rookie of the year in the 2008–09 season of the AHL and finished with 30 goals and 56 points in 57 games. [15] He was also named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. [16]

Despite having a good training camp [17] Gerbe was assigned to Portland to start the 2009–10 season. [18] He scored his first career NHL goal on December 9, 2009, against the Washington Capitals. [19] On December 30, it was announced that Gerbe had been named to the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic. [20] He was recalled on March 28, 2010. After registering a goal and three points in eight games, on April 17, Gerbe was sent back to Portland to help the AHL team in their playoff run. [21] On April 26, he scored his first NHL postseason goal in a 4–3 loss to the Boston Bruins, which eliminated the Sabres from the playoffs. [22]

Gerbe with the Buffalo Sabres in 2012 Nathan Gerbe Sabres 2012-02-19.JPG
Gerbe with the Buffalo Sabres in 2012

Gerbe broke through as a regular for Sabres in the 2010–11 season, playing on the third and fourth lines. [23] On January 21, 2011, he scored two goals in five seconds against the New York Islanders, setting a franchise record for the fastest two goals by one player. [24] He scored the only two goals in a 2–0 win over the Montreal Canadiens on March 22. [25] Gerbe finished the season playing in 64 games, scoring 16 goals and 31 points.

On June 29, 2011, Gerbe re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres to a three-year deal worth $1.42 million per season, avoiding salary arbitration. [23] Gerbe's season was interrupted the following year by a hit from Marc-André Bourdon of the Philadelphia Flyers on December 8, where Gerbe was driven head-first into the boards. [26] This caused him to miss time and he eventually required spinal surgery during the summer. [27]

Upon completion of the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Gerbe was placed on waivers by the Sabres on July 3, 2013, with the intention of buying out the remainder of his contract. [28] A free agent, Gerbe later agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 26. [29] On June 24, 2014, Nathan Gerbe re-signed with the Hurricanes on a two-year, one-way contract. [30]

On July 1, 2016, having left the Hurricanes as a free agent, Gerbe signed a one-year deal with the New York Rangers. [31] However, Gerbe did not make the Rangers roster out of training camp and was sent down to the Rangers' AHL team, the Hartford Wolf Pack. [32] When Gerbe refused to report to the Wolf Pack, the Rangers placed him on unconditional waivers for release in order to terminate his contract. [33]

On October 14, 2016, Gerbe agreed to a three-year contract with Switzerland's Genève-Servette HC of the National League A (NLA). [34] Gerbe made his NLA debut on October 21, on home-ice against HC Ambrì-Piotta. He scored his first NLA goal on October 29, on home-ice against HC Lugano in a 5–0 win. He finished his first season with 28 points (11 goals) in 26 games, before adding two assists in four playoffs games. Gerbe appeared in 13 regular season games with Genève-Servette HC in the 2017–18 season, scoring five points (one goal), before being taken out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. After an injury sustained during a team practice, Gerbe was put on the trade block by the team. [35] [36] He went on to play an additional six games, before being released on January 20, 2018, in order to get rid of his remaining SFr 1.3 million salary. In his playing time with Genève-Servette HC, he put up 35 points (13 goals) in 45 games, over two seasons. [37]

On January 24, 2018, it was announced that the Columbus Blue Jackets signed Gerbe to a one-year, two-way contract for the rest of the 2017–18 season. [38] After clearing waivers, Gerbe was assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. [39] However, after Markus Nutivaara was placed on injured reserve, Gerbe was called up to the NHL on February 21. [40] He was reassigned to the Monsters a few days later on February 26, after recording no points in two games. [41] In adding to the depth within the Blue Jackets organization, Gerbe agreed to a two-year, two-way contract extension on March 15. [42]

Before the 2018–19 season, the Monsters named Gerbe team captain after going without one the previous season. [43]

After 13 professional seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), Gerbe announced his retirement on September 14, 2022. The same day he also announced he had joined the Nashville Predators organization as the club's forward development coach. [44]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2002–03 River City Lancers USHL 253364971122
2003–04 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP3214122666
2003–04U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 261171887
2004–05U.S. NTDP U18USDP266111748
2004–05U.S. NTDP U18NAHL12751225
2005–06 Boston College HE 391171875
2006–07 Boston CollegeHE4125224776
2007–08 Boston CollegeHE4335336865
2008–09 Portland Pirates AHL 573026566350004
2008–09 Buffalo Sabres NHL 100114
2009–10 Portland PiratesAHL441127384641124
2009–10 Buffalo SabresNHL10235421120
2010–11 Buffalo SabresNHL6416153134720218
2011–12 Buffalo SabresNHL626192532
2012–13 Buffalo SabresNHL42551014
2013–14 Carolina Hurricanes NHL8116153136
2014–15 Carolina HurricanesNHL7810182834
2015–16 Carolina HurricanesNHL4734714
2016–17 Genève–Servette HC NLA 261117282240222
2017–18 Genève–Servette HCNL1925785
2017–18 Cleveland Monsters AHL244141816
2017–18 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL20000
2018–19 Cleveland MonstersAHL4110223269
2019–20 Cleveland MonstersAHL308172522
2019–20 Columbus Blue JacketsNHL3046102220000
2020–21 Columbus Blue JacketsNHL91232
2020–21 Cleveland MonstersAHL13461036
NHL totals43563881511961131418

International

Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2007 Mora
IIHF U18 Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2005 České Budějovice
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2004 Minsk
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2004 United States U17 4th555104
2004 United States WJC18 Silver medal icon.svg602220
2005 United StatesWJC18Gold medal icon.svg644814
2006 United States WJC 4th70006
2007 United StatesWJCBronze medal icon.svg70662
Junior totals319172646

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-Hockey East Second Team 2006–07
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 2007, 2008 [45]
All-Hockey East First Team 2007–08
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2007–08
Hockey East All-Tournament Team 2008 [46]

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References

  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  2. "Gerbe retires, joins Predators organization". TSN . September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  3. Chambers, Mike (April 13, 2008). "Boston College wins title". The Denver Post . Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  4. Marrapese-Burrell, Nancy; Matson, Barbara (April 12, 2008). "Porter, not Gerbe, wins Hobey Baker". The Boston Globe . Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  5. "Sabres sign Boston College forward Nathan Gerbe to 3-year deal". The Canadian Press. May 6, 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  6. Harrington, Mike (April 15, 2011). "Flyers stay evasive on injured Pronger's status". The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
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  9. "Sabres Call Up Rookie". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 7, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
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  19. "Miller's 16th career shutout saves Sabres vs. Capitals". ESPN. Associated Press. December 10, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
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  24. "Michael Grabner, rookie goalies key Islanders' victory". ESPN. January 21, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by NCAA Ice Hockey Scoring Champion
2007–08
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Brock Bradford
William Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player
2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by AHL Rookie of the Year
2008–09
Succeeded by