The Chicago Blackhawks signed defenseman prospect Dennis Gilbert to a three-year entry-level deal, the team announced Friday. He will forego his senior season at Notre Dame and report to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL for the Calder Cup playoffs.
Gilbert, 21, who was drafted in the third round in 2015 by Chicago, played the last three seasons at Notre Dame, where he emerged as one of the best defensive defenseman in the country. The Fighting Irish made back-to-back Frozen Four appearances and lost the 2018 NCAA national championship game to Minnesota-Duluth with Gilbert anchor its blueline.