Brandon Gignac Explained

Brandon Gignac
Birth Date:7 November 1997
Birth Place:Repentigny, Quebec, Canada
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:170
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Montreal Canadiens
Prospect Team:Laval Rocket
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:New Jersey Devils
Draft:80th overall
Draft Year:2016
Draft Team:New Jersey Devils
Career Start:2019

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

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 season, on November 12, 2016, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils.[2] [3] That spring, he would join the Devils' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Albany Devils, on an amateur tryout (ATO) basis following a first round defeat in the QMJHL playoffs. Gignac 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 season. 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] After registering 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

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2012–13Collège Esther-Blondin PhénixQMAAA422017374630114
2013–14Shawinigan CataractesQMJHL5359141840116
2014–15Shawinigan CataractesQMJHL63931401872134
2015–16Shawinigan CataractesQMJHL67243761412079168
2016–17Shawinigan CataractesQMJHL592339623060442
2016–17Albany DevilsAHL20002
2017–18Binghamton DevilsAHL212134
2018–19Binghamton DevilsAHL6612243628
2018–19New Jersey DevilsNHL10000
2019–20Binghamton DevilsAHL364101419
2020–21Binghamton DevilsAHL20002
2020–21Jacksonville IcemenECHL351017276
2021–22Laval RocketAHL4810162612135496
2022–23Laval RocketAHL491320331420110
2023–24Laval RocketAHL6119365546
2023–24Montreal CanadiensNHL71010
NHL totals81010

International

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ryan . Chris . Meet the 2016 Devils draft class . NJ.com . March 11, 2019 . June 26, 2016.
  2. Devils sign forward Brandon Gignac to entry-level contract . NJDevilsPR.com . New Jersey Devils . March 11, 2019 . November 12, 2016.
  3. Web site: À travers la LNH : un 1er contrat pour Gignac . RDS.ca . March 11, 2019 . fr-CA . November 12, 2016.
  4. Web site: Game Summary Americans 5, Devils 4 . TheAHL.com . April 14, 2017 . March 11, 2019.
  5. Web site: Robenhymer . Julie . Gignac aims to impress at Devils Training Camp . New Jersey Devils . NHL.com . March 11, 2019 . August 15, 2018.
  6. Web site: Stein . Amanda . Rangers rally by Devils, 4-2 . New Jersey Devils . NHL.com . March 11, 2019 . March 9, 2019.
  7. Web site: A Fresh Start for Brandon Gignac . TheAHL.com . December 3, 2021 . November 19, 2023.
  8. Web site: NHL Expansion Draft protected list for Kraken released . National Hockey League. NHL.com . July 18, 2021 . November 19, 2023.
  9. Web site: Devils acquire defenseman Jaros from San Jose; Extend qualifying offers to 5 players . . July 27, 2021 . November 19, 2023.
  10. RocketLaval . 1420761037289234433 . 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. . July 29, 2021.
  11. Web site: Brandon Gignac de retour pour deux saisons avec le Rocket . fr . RDS.ca . July 9, 2022 . November 19, 2023.
  12. Web site: Two-year contract for Brandon Gignac. NHL.com. Montreal Canadiens. February 4, 2024.
  13. Web site: Canadiens' Brandon Gignac: Makes debut . . February 7, 2024 . February 9, 2024.
  14. Web site: ANA@MTL: Game recap. NHL.com. Montreal Canadiens. February 13, 2024 . February 13, 2024.