Senators acquire Gilbert from Flyers for Guenette

The Senators are getting the player with far more NHL experience. Gilbert, 29, has played 111 NHL games spread over six seasons. They’re also getting a familiar face, as Gilbert was dealt to Ottawa from the Buffalo Sabres at last season’s trade deadline as part of the package headlined by forward Dylan Cozens. The Buffalo native played only four games for the Senators last season after coming over, putting up one assist in just over 13 minutes of ice time per game. Gilbert then signed a one-year, $875,000 deal as an unrestricted free agent with the Flyers this past offseason, but has only played with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms so far, registering as assist in six games.

Gilbert was originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. After a three-year college career with Notre Dame, he spent two seasons in the Blackhawks’ organization before being dealt to the Colorado Avalanche in trade that featured Brandon Saad and Nikita Zadorov. Following two seasons with Colorado, he signed a two-year contract with the Calgary Flames. Then, ahead of the 2024-25 season, he signed a one-year deal with his hometown Sabres. Gilbert has bounced between the NHL and AHL thoughout his career, with his most productice NHL season coming in 2023-24 when he had a goal and six assists for seven points in 34 games with the Flames.

Guenette, 24, was drafted by the Senators in the seventh round of the 2019 draft. He’s played just eight NHL games so far, going pointless. The L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec native was a restricted free agent coming into this season and had not agreed to a contract with Ottawa prior to Monday’s trade. Last season with the AHL’s Belleville Senators, he tallied nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 58 games.