Saturday: Elliotte Friedman reports that Gibbons has cleared. The Hurricanes announced that he has been assigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL.
Friday: The Carolina Hurricanes have placed Brian Gibbons on waivers today, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. This move comes as the team activates Jordan Martinook from injured reserve, just over a month after he had core muscle surgery.
Gibbons, 31, has turned a four-year stint at Boston College as an undersized, undrafted forward into a long professional career. Starting first with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as a minor league depth player, he worked his way to the NHL and has now played in 200 career games. Though he’ll continue as injury depth for the Hurricanes, he is an important piece for them to have sitting in the minor leagues if they can get him through waivers again. He cleared at the end of September but needed them again after playing in 11 games this season.
Martinook meanwhile returns to his role on the ice and in the locker room as one of the Hurricanes’ most trusted leaders. The 27-year old wears an “A” as alternate captain and provides a physical, grinding presence in the bottom-six. Taking players like Andrei Svechnikov under his wing and helping them to become professionals, he is an important part of the success the Hurricanes have experienced over the last year, even if his offensive production—which is not entirely lacking, he did score 15 goals last season—is not at the same level as some of his more talented teammates.
Missed opportunity with Gauthier