Brandon Gignac

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Brandon Gignac
Born (1997-11-07) November 7, 1997 (age 26)
Repentigny, Quebec, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Montreal Canadiens
Laval Rocket (AHL)
New Jersey Devils
NHL draft 80th overall, 2016
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2019–present

Brandon Gignac (born November 7, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the third round, 80th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career[edit]

Gignac played major junior hockey with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) before he was selected by the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the third round, 80th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.[1] During his final season with the Cataractes in the 2016–17, on November 12, 2016, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils.[2][3] After posting 62 points in 59 regular season games with Shawinigan, Gignac joined the Devils' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Albany Devils, on an amateur try-out basis following a first round defeat in the QMJHL playoffs. He made his professional debut in Albany's penultimate regular season game against the Rochester Americans in a 5–4 defeat on April 14, 2017.[4]

In his first professional season, Gignac was assigned by New Jersey to their new AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Devils, for their inaugural season in 2017–18. In his first two months, he contributed with just two goals and one assist, while also developing his two-way game before suffering a season-ending knee injury, tearing both his ACL and MCL, on December 13, 2017. Before the 2018–19 season, Gignac participated in the Devils' training camp.[5] On March 9, 2019, Gignac received his first call-up to the NHL by the Devils and made his NHL debut, taking one shot and skating for 9:04 minutes as the Devils lost 4–2 to the New York Rangers.[6]

In his final year with the Devils organization, he played in the ECHL with the Jacksonville Icemen.[7] Gignac was a restricted free agent at the end of the 2020–21 season. He was left unprotected in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft but ultimately went unselected.[8] Gignac was not given a qualifying offer by the Devils and became an unrestricted free agent.[9]

On July 29, 2021, Gignac signed a one-year contract with the Laval Rocket of the AHL.[10] Gignac registered 10 goals and 26 points in 48 games with the Rocket during the 2021–22 season. He signed a two-year extension with Laval on July 9, 2022.[11]

During the 2023–24 season, while leading the Rocket in scoring with 42 points through 43 regular season games, Gignac secured a two-year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens on February 4, 2024.[12] He was recalled by Montreal the same day and made his debut for the Canadiens in a 5–2 win over the Washington Capitals on February 7.[13] On February 13, Gignac scored his first career NHL goal in a 5-0 shutout victory versus the Anaheim Ducks.[14]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season and playoffs[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix QMAAA 42 20 17 37 46 3 0 1 1 4
2013–14 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 53 5 9 14 18 4 0 1 1 6
2014–15 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 63 9 31 40 18 7 2 1 3 4
2015–16 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 67 24 37 61 41 20 7 9 16 8
2016–17 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 59 23 39 62 30 6 0 4 4 2
2016–17 Albany Devils AHL 2 0 0 0 2
2017–18 Binghamton Devils AHL 21 2 1 3 4
2018–19 Binghamton Devils AHL 66 12 24 36 28
2018–19 New Jersey Devils NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Binghamton Devils AHL 36 4 10 14 19
2020–21 Binghamton Devils AHL 2 0 0 0 2
2020–21 Jacksonville Icemen ECHL 35 10 17 27 6
2021–22 Laval Rocket AHL 48 10 16 26 12 13 5 4 9 6
2022–23 Laval Rocket AHL 49 13 20 33 14 2 0 1 1 0
2023–24 Laval Rocket AHL 61 19 36 55 46
2023–24 Montreal Canadiens NHL 7 1 0 1 0
NHL totals 8 1 0 1 0

International[edit]

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Canada Quebec U17 4th 6 1 0 1 4
Junior totals 6 1 0 1 4

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ryan, Chris (June 26, 2016). "Meet the 2016 Devils draft class". nj.com. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  2. ^ "Devils sign forward Brandon Gignac to entry-level contract" (PDF). njdevilspr.com (Press release). New Jersey Devils. November 12, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  3. ^ "À travers la LNH : un 1er contrat pour Gignac". RDS (in Canadian French). November 12, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  4. ^ "Game Summary Americans 5, Devils 4". American Hockey League. April 14, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  5. ^ Robenhymer, Julie (August 15, 2018). "Gignac aims to impress at Devils Training Camp". New Jersey Devils. Retrieved March 11, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  6. ^ Stein, Amanda (March 9, 2019). "Rangers rally by Devils, 4-2". New Jersey Devils. Retrieved March 11, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  7. ^ "A Fresh Start for Brandon Gignac". Laval Rocket. December 3, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  8. ^ "NHL Expansion Draft protected list for Kraken released". National Hockey League. July 18, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  9. ^ "Devils acquire defenseman Jaros from San Jose; Extend qualifying offers to 5 players". Utica Observer-Dispatch. July 27, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  10. ^ @RocketLaval (July 29, 2021). "The Laval Rocket announced on Thursday that the team has agreed to terms on a one-year contract (2021-22 - AHL, one-way) with Quebec-born forward Brandon Gignac" (Tweet). Retrieved July 29, 2021 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Brandon Gignac de retour pour deux saisons avec le Rocket". RDS (in French). July 9, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  12. ^ "Two-year contract for Brandon Gignac". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved February 4, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  13. ^ "Canadiens' Brandon Gignac: Makes debut". CBS Sports. February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "ANA@MTL: Game recap". Montreal Canadiens. February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024 – via NHL.com.

External links[edit]