WNYers Dennis Gilbert, Nick DeSimone reunite on opposite sides of Sabres, Devils matchup

PRAGUE Dennis Gilbert and Nick DeSimone had a running joke over the years that the best friends from Western New York someday would play one season together in a foreign country like England or France.

They became teammates far sooner than expected, spending two years together in the Calgary Flames organization from 2022-24, and finally got their trip to Europe this week.

The circumstances arent what they drew up, though.

Defenseman Dennis Gilbert, above, is with the Sabres in Czechia along with former Buffalo Jr.

Sabres teammate Nick DeSimone, now with the Devils.

Gilbert is entering his first season as a defenseman with the Sabres after the 27-year-old from Buffalo signed a one-year contract to join his hometown team.

DeSimone, 29, is from East Amherst and entering his first full season as a defenseman with the New Jersey Devils.

The teams open their season Friday in Pragues O2 Arena and, though neither Gilbert nor DeSimone are projected to be in the lineup for either game of the NHLs Global Series, their meeting in Czechia is the latest hockey moment theyve shared since their time as teammates on the Buffalo Jr.

Sabres in 2013-14.

Its crazy, DeSimone told The Buffalo News following the Devils practice Wednesday in Prague.

Were best buddies going to different teams and, all of sudden, were starting the season with our teams facing each other overseas.

Devils defenseman Nick DeSimone is best friends with Sabres defenseman Dennis Gilbert.

The decade-long friendship began as a mentorship.

Gilbert was three years younger than DeSimone when they were on the Buffalo Jr.

Sabres with Michael Peca as their coach.

They had common interests and connections in the area.

There was friendly trash talk because Gilbert was a student at St.

Joes and DeSimone went to Williamsville North.

The age gap meant different responsibilities away from the rink, though, so they didnt spend as much time together outside of hockey that year.

They went their separate ways after that season.

DeSimone played at Union College for three years, then turned pro with the San Jose Sharks American Hockey League affiliate also in San Jose.

Gilbert moved on to the United States Hockey Leagues Chicago Steel, became a third-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015, played three years at Notre Dame and appeared in his first game as a pro in the AHL with Rockford in 2018.

The two remained close over the years, and they got an apartment together in the summer of 2019 after Gilberts first pro season.

He made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks that April.

They still train together each offseason.

Every day begins with time on the ice at LECOM Harborcenter followed by a round of golf.

Gilbert, a rugged, hard-hitting defenseman who excels on the penalty kill, played 25 NHL games with Chicago and Colorado from 2019-21.

DeSimone, meanwhile, emerged as a legitimate candidate for an NHL call-up during the 2021-22 season when his coach with the AHLs Stockton Flames, Mitch Love, moved him into the role that hes filled ever since.

Even though Kulich may not play against New Jersey, and an assignment to Rochester next week seems inevitable, he has proven over the past month that he is a more complete player and better prepared to help the Buffalo Sabres win.

You have to fill what a team needs and in the American league, I was needed to be an offensive guy or whatever, but I knew that I wasnt going to play in the NHL and be the power-play one, DeSimone explained.

Its different because you have to play a different game in each league but also show you can be the shutdown D-man.

(Mitch) really turned me into a defensive D-man.

I didnt really play a lot of power play there, which was good for me.

He was like, I want you to focus on this.

Unrestricted free agency was about to begin in the summer of 2022 when Gilbert called DeSimone with the news that he was signing with Calgary and wanted to know if his best friend was sticking around.

DeSimone signed a two-year deal not long after.

They became defense partners in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers, and both were recalled to the NHL in November 2022.

Neither had an idea if they were going to play.

It wasnt until a morning skate on Long Island that DeSimone learned that he was going to make his NHL debut at 27 years old and after 274 AHL games.

Gilbert was not in the lineup that night, but he dressed for warmups as DeSimone realized his dream.

When he got to play his first game, there was nobody happier than me, said Gilbert.

It was so cool to watch him do his first lap.

He did a really good job of going from more of an offensive player earlier in his career to being really good in his own zone and defending hard and being harder to play against.

It was cool to watch his evolution over the course of summers.

I could see his smile, DeSimone added.

It was awesome.

Even getting dressed for the game and looking over seeing Denny, it was unbelievable.

Thats a memory Ill have forever.

DeSimones family made the trip downstate that night, and Gilberts family texted Nick congratulations following his debut.

They lived only a few doors down from each other in Calgary.

Theyd go to dinner and watch Bills games together during football season.

They even became defense partners in the NHL last season before DeSimone was claimed off waivers by the Devils.

Gilbert continued his impressive play in Calgary, while DeSimone flourished in New Jersey with the opportunity under interim coach Travis Greene while playing alongside rookie defenseman Luke Hughes.

The Devils outscored their opponents 10-2 at 5-on-5 when DeSimone was on the ice, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Gilbert is going to be in DeSimones wedding party next summer even though Nick hasnt formally asked yet, theyre so close that its assumed and Dennis plans to do the same when its his time to get married.

Both teams are busy this week in Prague, but they met briefly to check in on how each is handling training camp with a new coach.

Each knows the role theyll play on their respective team, though, and no matter what happens on the ice this weekend in O2 arena, theyll be rooting for each other from afar once the teams head back to the United States.

I understand that Im not going to be asked to jump in the rush and score goals, said Gilbert.

Weve got a ton of guys who can do that, so what Ive got to bring is be as physical as I possibly can be inside the structure where youre not out of position, be super hard to play against.

Similar to our fourth line, wearing guys down and playing heavy minutes and dragging guys into the fight.

Thats how I can help.

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