Red Wings sign Andrew Gibson to entry-level contract

The Detroit Red Wings have announced that they’ve signed defenseman Andrew Gibson to an entry-level contract.

As of right now, the cap hit of the contract is unknown, along with if there are any performance bonuses that come with the contract. The contract will come into effect in the 2024-25 season.

Gibson just finished his third season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he had 12 goals and 32 assists for 44 points in 66 games. He also had two assists in 11 playoff games for the Greyhounds this year before they were eliminated in seven games in the second round at the hands of the Saginaw Spirit.

With Gibson done with the Greyhounds for the rest of the season and his new contract not kicking in until next season, Gibson has also signed an amateur tryout contract with the Red Wings AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, and will join the team for their playoff run. The Griffins are currently up 1-0 in their best-of-five series with the Rockford IceHogs.

Gibson was the second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2023 NHL Draft when he was coming off of his first full season with the Greyhounds, and put up 7 goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 45 games. He also participated in the Men’s World U-18 Championship in 2023 with the Canadian National team, where he had 3 assists in 7 games on route to Canada winning the bronze medal.

Daily Faceoff’s prospect analyst Steven Ellis had this to say about Gibson in his final draft rankings prior to the 2023 NHL Draft, where Ellis had ranked him 83rd.

“I liked Gibson’s play the most at the U-18 World Championship. He started the tournament as the seventh blueliner, but he played more than 20 minutes a night near the end. Gibson didn’t have much to show for on the scoresheet, but he skated around some attackers and took risks with decent rewards. At 6-foot-3 and just under 200 pounds, he projects to be a physical defenseman with good hockey sense and the ability to shut plays down.“

Gibson is the Red Wings’ second entry-level signing since the conclusion of their season, also signing defenseman Shai Buium to a three-year deal a day after they were heartbreakingly put out of a playoff spot despite winning their game that night 5-4 in the shootout against the Montreal Canadiens.