Longtime veteran forward Nathan Gerbe has retired from the NHL after a very respectable and hard fought 13-year career.
Gerbe’s retirement announcement came from the Nashville Predators, who said in a press release that he has subsequently been hired to replace Sebastien Bordeleau as the team’s forward development coach. He will help in following and evaluating forward prospects in the organizations system, with a main focus on nutrition, off-ice workouts and conditioning.
Gerbe, 35, was unable to play in the 2021-22 season due to hip surgery last September. He was signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets at the time, and was hoping to earn a full-time spot after splitting the 2020-21 season between the NHL and American Hockey League (AHL).
Throughout his lengthy playing career, Gerbe logged 435 games at the NHL level, registering 63 goals and 151 points during stints with the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes and the Blue Jackets. He additionally suited up for 11 career playoff games in which he recorded three goals and four points.
Gerbe was viewed during his playing career as an immense talent with an extremely hard work ethic. Standing at just 5-foot-4, he had to work extremely hard each and every shift to gain inside position on opponents, something he was able to do very well. That said, the way he was forced to play the game resulted in plenty of injuries over the years, limiting him through the final few years of his career.
Gerbe’s best season at the NHL level came in 2010-11 with the Sabres, a year in which he notched 16 goals and 31 points in just 64 outings. He was also highly successful during his time in the AHL, specifically in the 2008-09 season with the Portland Pirates in which he was voted as rookie of the year after posting 30 goals and 56 points in 57 games.
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