Erik Gudbranson
Canadian defenceman and alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Erik Donald Stanley Gudbranson (born January 7, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected third overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL entry draft and has played for eight NHL clubs, including the Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, and Calgary Flames before joining Columbus.
Gudbranson started his junior career with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), who picked him fourth overall in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection. In his first season, he put up 3 goals and 22 points in 63 games as the Frontenacs missed the playoffs. He got his first OHL point with two assists in a 6–2 loss to the Belleville Bulls on October 1, and scored his first OHL goal on January 23 against the Erie Otters’ Jaroslav Janus in a 6–5 overtime loss. The next season, mononucleosis cost him 27 games; he played 41 games, scoring 2 goals and 23 points. In the playoffs, he had a goal and two assists in seven games as Kingston fell to the Brampton Battalion in the first round. After that season, he received the Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year. Returning to Kingston for 2010–11, his offensive numbers jumped to 12 goals and 34 points in 44 games, and he added a goal and four points in five playoff games before the Frontenacs lost to the Oshawa Generals in the first round.
Gudbranson made the Florida Panthers’ roster for the 2011–12 season and debuted on October 8 against the New York Islanders. He earned his first NHL point, an assist, on December 2 versus the Los Angeles Kings, and scored his first NHL goal against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers in a 6–1 loss on December 11. He finished the season with 2 goals and 8 points in 72 games, helping the Panthers reach the playoffs for the first time since 1999–2000. He was held pointless in seven games as Florida lost to the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. In the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, he played 32 games and recorded four assists as the Panthers missed the playoffs. The following season, he appeared in 65 games, scoring three goals and six assists, mostly paired with captain Ed Jovanovski and also with Dylan Olsen.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1992-01-07
- Birth Place
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 5
- Weight Lb
- 220
- Position
- Defence
- Shoots
- Right
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Former Teams
- Florida Panthers / Vancouver Canucks / Pittsburgh Penguins / Anaheim Ducks / Ottawa Senators / Nashville Predators / Calgary Flames
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Draft
- 3rd overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Gudbranson played junior hockey for the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he was drafted fourth overall in 2008. In his rookie season he recorded 3 goals and 22 points in 63 games. After missing 27 games due to mononucleosis in 2009–10, he was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy as OHL Scholastic Player of the Year. He returned for 2010–11 and posted 12 goals and 34 points in 44 games.
He made his NHL debut with the Florida Panthers in 2011–12, scoring his first goal against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. Over five seasons with Florida he appeared in 309 regular-season games, recording 11 goals and 40 points. He was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in May 2016, then to the Pittsburgh Penguins in February 2019, and later to the Anaheim Ducks in October 2019. He joined the Ottawa Senators in October 2020, was traded to the Nashville Predators in April 2021, and signed with the Calgary Flames as a free agent in September 2021. With Calgary he set career highs in goals (6), assists (11), points (17), blocked shots (92), games played, and plus/minus (+15).
Gudbranson signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 13, 2022. In his first season with Columbus he appeared in 70 games, scoring one goal and 13 points. He was named an alternate captain for the Blue Jackets.
Reader's Guide
Erik Gudbranson's significance lies in his durability and physical presence as a defenceman across eight NHL organizations. Selected third overall in 2010, he was expected to become a top-pairing blueliner; while he never fully met those offensive expectations, he carved out a long career as a reliable, stay-at-home defender. His trade history illustrates how teams valued his size and toughness: the Vancouver Canucks acquired him specifically to add a physical defenceman, and he later matched a career-high four goals in 44 games with Anaheim. His best statistical season came with the Calgary Flames in 2021–22, when he posted career highs in goals, assists, points, blocked shots, and plus/minus. With Columbus, he became one of the few healthy defencemen on the roster in his first season, appearing in 70 games. His legacy is that of a high draft pick who adapted his game to remain an NHL regular, contributing as a veteran presence and alternate captain for the Blue Jackets.
Did You Know?
- He was traded seven times during his NHL career before signing with Columbus.
- His brother Dennis is a leukemia survivor, and Gudbranson promotes stem cell donation through Canadian Blood Services.
More in Columbus Blue Jackets Players 1-24
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