Gabriel Vilardi

Did You Know?

• Vilardi was born to Italian parents Natale Vilardi and Giovanna Siviglia, who moved from Reggio Calabria to Kingston, Ontario.
• His older brother Francesco played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League and three seasons for the Queen's University hockey team.

Playing career

Vilardi was selected second overall in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection by the Windsor Spitfires. Although a natural centre, he mostly played wing for Windsor. Before the NHL draft, NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him the No. 4 North American skater, and TSN's Craig Button described him as a big, strong centre with considerable offensive potential. On January 1, 2018, the Spitfires traded Vilardi and Sean Day to the Kingston Frontenacs for Cody Morgan and six draft picks. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings on March 1, 2018. A chronic back issue delayed his professional debut with the Ontario Reign until November 29, 2018; he earned his first professional point three days later. On December 10, 2018, the Kings loaned him to Team Canada for the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. After recovering, he played 32 games for the Reign in 2019–20, recording 9 goals and 16 assists. Recalled on February 20, 2020, he made his NHL debut that night against the Florida Panthers and scored his first career goal on his first shot, 6 seconds into his first shift, setting an NHL record; he also added an assist. As a restricted free agent, he signed a one-year, $825,000 extension with the Kings on July 23, 2022. On June 27, 2023, the Kings traded Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, and a 2024 second-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets for Pierre-Luc Dubois. He scored his first NHL hat trick on April 4, 2024, in a 5-2 Jets win over the Calgary Flames. On July 18, 2025, he signed a six-year, $45 million contract to remain with the Jets.