Martin Gerber Signs With The Oilers, Returns to the NHL

The Edmonton Oilers announced today that they have signed 35-year-old Swiss goalie Martin Gerber to a one-year contract.

Gerber most recently played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Atlant Moscow. In 30 games last season, he went 15-6-6 with a .914 save percentage and a 2.19 goals against average.

In the NHL, he as played with the Maple Leafs, Senators, Hurricanes and Ducks. The Anaheim Ducks originally drafted him 232nd overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, although they were named the “Mighty Ducks” back then.

Gerber broke into the NHL in 2002-03, posting a record of 17-23-7. Throughout his NHL career he has tallied a record of 110-78-21, with a 2.65 GAA and a .910 save percentage.

The 5’11″, 195 pound goalie also has international experience. In the 2006 Winter Olympics, he split the goaltending job with David Aebischer for Team Switzerland.

Canadian hockey fans that watch the Olympics probably remember him best as the goaltender that backstopped the Swiss hockey team to a 2-0 shutout win over the Canadians in 2006. Gerber made 49 saves for the shutout, even though there was a controversial goal by Rick Nash that was called off.

Gerber is the fourth goalie on the Oilers roster that has played in the NHL. He joins the likes of Nikolai Khabibulin, Jeff Deslauriers and Devan Dubnyk.

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