Brian Gibbons News

Gibbons has been sidelined with a knee injury since December 18th, but he is nearing a return to the lineup. Gibbons registered five assists in 21 games prior to getting hurt.

The Blue Jackets placed Gibbons on IR on Friday in order to make room to recall Alexander Wennberg, who will replace Gibbons over the next two-to-three weeks.

Gibbons, 26, was signed by the Blue Jackets as a free agent last July and has collected one goal and three assists in seven games with Springfield this season. He spent the previous three seasons in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, collecting 17 points (5G / 12A) in 41 career NHL games.

Gibbons came over from the Penguins in the offseason, but was unable to crack the Blue Jackets roster. He will head back to the AHL where he had 11 goals and 19 assists (30 points) in 28 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Penguins' AHL Affiliate) last season.

As is typical with playoff hockey, there was no update on his status after the game.

Gibbons did not play on Friday because of a lower-body injury. He will be held out of tonight's contest as well which means Lee Stempniak will be with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz again. Gibbons will likely be back in the lineup on Tuesday.

Gibbons was sent down to play with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton during the Olympic break. He has totalled four goals and five assists (nine points) in 19 games with the Penguins this season. While in the AHL he has amassed 30 points (11G / 19A) in 28 games.

The Penguins played their last game before the break on Friday, so they have assigned a trio of forwards to play in the AHL during the Olympic break.

Gibbons missed the last five games, but will be back tonight and will start on a line with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz and also see time on the second power-play unit. He has two goals and four assists in 13 games.

Gibbons has missed the last five games after suffering a lower-body injury on January 11. Gibbons was activated from IR on Saturday and could return to the Pens top-line tonight in Buffalo.

Gibbons was injured on Saturday and did not return. With Gibbons and Pascal Dupuis both out, someone else will move up and skate with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz. There is no word who that will be, but whoever it is certainly gets a temporary spike in fantasy value.

Gibbons has nine goals and 18 assists (27 points) in 23 games in the AHL. He appeared in his first five NHL games earlier this season, Gibbons totalled one goal and one assist.

Gibbons played in five games with Pittsburgh, scoring his first NHL goal and adding an assist for two points in a 3-1 defeat of the Anaheim Ducks on November 18. He returns to the AHL where he has seven goals and 22 points in 15 games.

Gibbons, 25, has led the way offensively for WBS this season, posting team-high totals with 15 assists and 22 points in 15 games played. His 15 assists lead the AHL, while his 22 points rank third in the league. He could make his NHL debut tonight vs. Anaheim.