Brent Gilchrist

Brent Gilchrist was a wonderfully versatile forward. He could play comfortably in all three forward spots. He was best utilized on a third unit checking line but he could easily be moved up to a scoring line in a pinch.

A prolific scorer in junior, Gilchrist was not much of a scorer in the big leagues. He did top 20 goals twice in his 15 NHL seasons. Otherwise he could be counted on to twist the twine 10 or so times a year. For a smaller player he had good balance and willingness to dart in and out of the dirty areas, but he simply was not a finisher.

Like so many graduates of the Montreal Canadiens development system of the 1980s and 1990s, Number 41 found a home in the NHL as a diligent defensive forward. A good skater, Gilchrist combined speed and agility with strong anticipation skills to become an effective penalty killer and shutdown winger.

Best known for his years in Montreal and Dallas, Gilchrist also played in Edmonton, Minnesota, Nashville, and Detroit. He won Stanley Cups in Montreal (1993) and Detroit (1998) but all but disappeared from the NHL in 1999 due to a groin injury that plagued him until he finally retired in 2003.