Dylan Gambrell

Dylan Gambrell (born August 26, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 60th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2016 NHL entry draft. He also previously played for the Ottawa Senators.

Playing career Gambrell grew up playing hockey in Kent, Washington for the Kent Valley Hockey Association thanks to his dad's roller hockey background. In order to hone his skills in preparation for a possible college hockey career, he moved to Colorado at the age of 14 to play junior hockey with the Colorado Thunderbirds of the T1EHL at the under-16 level. He was selected 11th overall in the 2012 USHL Futures draft by the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL). In 2013, he won the USHL Clark Cup with Dubuque.

Following the 2017–18 season, in which Gambrell placed third in team scoring as a junior with 43 points in 41 games, Gambrell concluded his collegiate career by signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks on March 26, 2018. He was immediately added to the Sharks playing roster, and made his NHL debut in a 4–2 defeat to the Dallas Stars on April 3, 2018. He completed the regular season going scoreless in three games.

Approaching the 2018–19 season, on October 2, 2018, he was assigned to the Sharks American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. He was recalled five days later after Joe Thornton was injured. Gambrell was inserted into the playoff lineup for Game 6 after Joe Pavelski was injured in Game 5 of the 2019 Western Conference Finals. He scored his first NHL goal versus the St. Louis Blues as the Sharks only goal during the Blues' 5–1 Game 6 victory. He finished the playoffs appearing in two games That off-season he was re-signed by the Sharks to a two-year contract on July 11, 2019.

Gambrell appeared in 50 games in the 2019–20 season, scoring five goals and eleven points. During the 2020–21 season, Gambrell appeared in 49 games, scoring five goals and twelve points. He led the team's forwards in ice time on the penalty kill. After the 2020–21 season, he signed a one-year contract extension.

On October 9, 2021, Gambrell was placed on waivers after he was beaten out in training camp for the final spot on the Sharks roster by Jasper Weatherby. He went unclaimed and Gambrell was assigned by the Sharks to the AHL to start the season with the San Jose Barracuda. After making two appearances with the Barracuda he was traded by the Sharks to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2022 on October 24, 2021. Gambrell was recalled to Ottawa following the trade. He finished the season with the Senators, registering three goals and seven points in 63 games. Gambrell signed a one-year extension with the Senators on June 15, 2022. During the 2022–23 season Gambrell played in 60 games scoring four goals and 10 points.

On July 3, 2023, Gambrell was signed as a free agent to a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the season. He remained with the Marlies for the duration of the season, posting 36 points through 66 regular season games. In the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs, he added one goal in three games for the Marlies.

On July 2, 2024, Gambrell joined his fourth NHL organization in signing as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2012–13 Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL 58 9 18 27 14 9 0 2 2 0 2013–14 Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL 60 14 29 43 29 7 0 0 0 0 2014–15 Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL 54 16 22 38 74 8 3 4 7 2 2015–16 University of Denver NCHC 41 17 30 47 19 — — — — — 2016–17 University of Denver NCHC 38 13 29 42 21 — — — — — 2017–18 University of Denver NCHC 41 13 30 43 15 — — — — — 2017–18 San Jose Sharks NHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2018–19 San Jose Barracuda AHL 51 20 25 45 18 4 1 3 4 0 2018–19 San Jose Sharks NHL 8 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 1 2 2019–20 San Jose Barracuda AHL 15 3 9 12 15 — — — — — 2019–20 San Jose Sharks NHL 50 5 6 11 17 — — — — — 2020–21 San Jose Sharks NHL 49 5 7 12 13 — — — — — 2021–22 San Jose Barracuda AHL 3 0 1 1 4 — — — — — 2021–22 Ottawa Senators NHL 63 3 4 7 12 — — — — — 2022–23 Ottawa Senators NHL 60 4 6 10 35 — — — — — 2023–24 Toronto Marlies AHL 66 14 22 36 16 3 1 0 1 0 2024–25 Cleveland Monsters AHL 54 13 12 25 32 6 2 0 2 2 2025–26 Iowa Wild AHL 35 10 26 36 4 — — — — — NHL totals 233 17 23 40 79 2 1 0 1 2

Awards and honors Award Year Reference USHL Clark Cup (Dubuque Fighting Saints) 2013