The Ottawa Senators were Dennis Gilbert's fifth NHL team that he joined in his six-year NHL career. At the trade deadline from this past March, the Senators acquired the 28-year-old defenseman in part of the Dylan Cozens trade with the Buffalo Sabres.
Following being traded to Ottawa, Gilbert would only record just one assist and play in four games as a Senator. Gilbert didn't play for the Senators in the 2025 playoffs. With the Sabres and Senators combined in the 2024-25 season, Gilbert recorded six assists with a -3 rating in 29 games.
Gilbert then became an unrestricted free agent when the 2025 playoffs concluded. With little contribution in Ottawa, Gilbert is moving on from the nation's capital.
Gilbert to sign with Flyers
Playing in just four games after being traded over may have shown signs that the Senators were unsure what to do with Gilbert. The Senators traded for Jordan Spence on the Los Angeles Kings at the 2025 NHL Draft, which may have had an impact on Gilbert.
Gilbert is leaving the Senators and signing a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Philadelphia Flyers
OFFICIAL: We've agreed to terms with defensemen Noah Juulsen (one-year deal worth $900K), and Dennis Gilbert (one-year deal worth $875K).
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 1, 2025
Details ➡️ https://t.co/rUV2bA5E8p pic.twitter.com/jAPJSESo9V
Trading for Spence may have been a writing on the wall that the Senators' interest in re-signing Gilbert were low. Now, Gilbert is off to Philadelphia.
The Senators still have seven defensemen under contract for the 2025-26 season even with losing Gilbert to the Flyers.