Nathan Gerbe

Nathan David Gerbe (born July 24, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played with Genève-Servette HC of the National League (NL) and for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League (NHL). At 5 feet and 4 inches tall, Gerbe is the shortest skater in NHL history, and the second shortest player in NHL history behind goaltender Roy Worters.

Nathan Gerbe
Gerbe with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2013
Born	July 24, 1987 Oxford, Michigan, U.S.
Height	5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Weight	176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Left
NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams	Columbus Blue Jackets Cleveland Monsters (AHL) Buffalo Sabres Carolina Hurricanes Genève-Servette HC
NHL Draft	142nd overall, 2005 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	2008–present

Playing career

Amateur

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 (wearing the number 9), and was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres with the 142nd pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

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.[2] He was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in the same 2007–08 season.[3]

Professional

On the ice, he is known for his skating ability and scoring touch, as evident with 68 points in 43 games in his last year with Boston College. During his tenure with the Buffalo Sabres, the local fans began to call him the "Tasmanian Devil," a reference to his smaller size, but rough style of play. He has also been called "The Gerbil" by local fans in reference to a confrontation with Daniel Carcillo of the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2011 NHL playoffs.

In an interview, Gerbe revealed that he models his game based after retired NHL players Martin St. Louis and Danny Brière, both of whom are also known for their small size and on-ice ability.

Gerbe with the Sabres in 2012

On May 6, 2008, Gerbe signed his first professional contract, a three-year, $2.55 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres.[4] He scored his first NHL preseason goal in a loss to the Montreal Canadiens on September 22. On December 6, 2008, he was recalled by the Sabres, and played in his first NHL regular-season game, a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. On December 13, Gerbe recorded his first NHL point against the New Jersey Devils by assisting a Drew Stafford goal.[5] Gerbe was awarded the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award for rookie of the year in the 2008–09 season of the AHL. He scored his first career NHL goal on December 9, 2009, against the Washington Capitals.[6] On April 26, 2010, he scored his first NHL postseason goal against the Boston Bruins.[7]

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.[8] On June 29, 2011, Gerbe re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres to a three-year deal worth $1.42 million per season.

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.[9] A free agent, Gerbe later agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 26, 2013.[10]

On June 24, 2014, Nathan Gerbe re-signed with the Hurricanes on a two-year, one-way contract. The deal pays Gerbe $1.5 million in 2014–15, and $2 million in 2015–16.[11]

On July 1, 2016, having left the Hurricanes as a free agent, Gerbe signed a one-year deal with the New York Rangers.[12] 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.[13] When Gerbe refused to report to the Wolf Pack, the Rangers placed him on unconditional waivers for release in order to terminate his contract.[14]

On October 14, 2016, Gerbe agreed to a three-year contract with Genève-Servette HC of the National League A (NLA).[15] Gerbe made his NLA debut on October 21, 2016, on home-ice against HC Ambrì-Piotta. Gerbe scored his first NLA goal on October 29, 2016, on home ice against HC Lugano in a 5-0 win. He finished his first season in Geneva with 28 points (11 goals) in 26 games, before adding two assists in four playoffs games. Gerbe appeared in 13 regular season games with Geneva in the 2017–18 season, scoring five points (one goal), before being taken out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. He racked up an impressive 79 PIM in those 13 games and put up a -4 rating. After an injury sustained during a team practice, Gerbe was put on the trade block by Geneva.[16][17] He went on to play an additional 6 games, before being released by Geneva on January 20, 2018, in order to get rid of his remaining CHF 1.3 million salary. In his playing time with Geneva, he put up 35 points (13 goals) in 45 games, over 2 seasons.[18]

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.[19] After clearing waivers, Gerbe was assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.[20] However, after Markus Nutivaara was placed on injured reserve, Gerbe was called up to the NHL on February 21, 2018.[21] He was reassigned to the Monsters a few days later on February 26, 2018, after recording no points in two games.[22] In adding to the depth within the Blue Jackets organization, Gerbe agreed to a two-year, two-way contract extension on March 15, 2018.[23]

Before the 2018–19 season, the Monsters named Gerbe team captain after going without one the previous season.[24]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002–03	River City Lancers	USHL		25	3	3	6	49		7	1	1	2	2
2003–04	U.S. NTDP U17	USDP		32	14	12	26	66		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	U.S. NTDP U18	NAHL		26	11	7	18	87		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	U.S. NTDP U18	USDP		26	6	11	17	48		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	U.S. NTDP U18	NAHL		12	7	5	12	25		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Boston College	HE		39	11	7	18	75		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Boston College	HE		41	25	22	47	76		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Boston College	HE		43	35	33	68	65		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Portland Pirates	AHL		57	30	26	56	63		5	0	0	0	4
2008–09	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		10	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Portland Pirates	AHL		44	11	27	38	46		4	1	1	2	4
2009–10	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		10	2	3	5	4		2	1	1	2	0
2010–11	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		64	16	15	31	34		7	2	0	2	18
2011–12	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		62	6	19	25	32		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		42	5	5	10	14		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		81	16	15	31	36		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		78	10	18	28	34		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		47	3	4	7	14		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Genève-Servette HC	NLA		26	11	17	28	22		4	0	2	2	2
2017–18	Genève-Servette HC	NL		19	2	5	7	85		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Cleveland Monsters	AHL		24	4	14	18	16		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Cleveland Monsters	AHL		41	10	22	32	69		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Cleveland Monsters	AHL		30	8	17	25	22		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		30	4	6	10	22		2	0	0	0	0
NHL totals				426	62	86	148	194		11	3	1	4	18

International

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	2007 Mora
IIHF U18 Championships
	2005 České Budějovice
	2004 Minsk

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004	United States	U17	4th		5	5	5	10	4
2004	United States	WJC18			6	0	2	2	20
2005	United States	WJC18			6	4	4	8	14
2006	United States	WJC	4th		7	0	0	0	6
2007	United States	WJC			7	0	6	6	2
Junior totals					31	9	17	26	46

Awards and honors

Award	Year
College
All-Hockey East Second Team	2006–07
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team	2007	[25]
All-Hockey East First Team	2007–08
AHCA East First-Team All-American	2007–08
Hockey East All-Tournament Team	2008	[26]
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team	2008	[25]

References

1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
2. Chambers, Mike (April 13, 2008). "Boston College wins title". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
3. Marrapese-Burrell, Nancy; Barbara Matson (April 12, 2008). "Porter, not Gerbe, wins Hobey Baker". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
4. "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 2008-05-06.
5. "NHL.com - Game Boxscore - Buffalo @ Devils - 12/13/08".
6. "NHL.com - Game Boxscore - Capitals @ Buffalo- 12/9/09".
7. "NHL Scores - Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins". ESPN. 2010-04-26. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
8. Wawrow, John (2011-01-21). "Grabner scores 2 goals, Isles beat Sabres 5-2". Associated Press. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
9. "Agent: Sabres inform F Nathan Gerbe they intend to buy out final year of contract". National Hockey League. 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
10. "Hurricanes sign Gerbe to one-year, two-way contract". The Sports Network. 2013-07-26. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
11. "Canes Agree to Terms with Nathan Gerbe". Carolina Hurricanes. 2014-06-24. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
12. "Rangers agree to terms with Nathan Gerbe". New York Rangers. 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
13. "Rangers' Nathan Gerbe: Waived for AHL reassignment". CBS Sports. 2016-10-07. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
14. Fortunato, Joe (2016-10-11). "Nathan Gerbe Refuses To Report To Hartford; Contract Will Be Terminated". Blueshirt Banter. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
15. "Nathan Gerbe signs three-year contract with Genève-Servette HC". Swiss Hockey News. 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
16. "Genève-Servette HC's American Nathan Gerbe injured". Swiss Hockey News. 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
17. "Due to financial problems - Genève-Servette HC offering three players on the market". www.swisshockeynews.ch. 2017-11-26. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
18. "Nathan Gerbe leaves GSHC" (in French). Genève-Servette HC. 2018-01-20. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
19. "Columbus Blue Jackets sign Nathan Gerbe". NHL.com. Columbus, Ohio. January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
20. "Columbus Blue Jackets activate Atkinson, assign Gerbe to Monsters". NHL.com. Columbus, OH: Columbus Blue Jackets. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
21. "Columbus Blue Jackets place Nutivaara on IR, recall Gerbe". NHL.com. Columbus Blue Jackets. February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
22. "Blue Jackets assign Nathan Gerbe to Monsters". NHL.com. February 26, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
23. "Blue Jackets extend Nathan Gerbe on two-year deal". Columbus Blue Jackets. 2018-03-15. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
24. "Monsters Taking Lead from the Captain this Season". clevelandmonsters.com. November 13, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
25. "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
26. "2013-14 Hockey East Media Guide". Hockey East. Retrieved 2014-05-19.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database