Hockey Badgers In The Pros Update

Tom Gilbert Traded To Minnesota

NHL trade deadline day was a bust for most fans of the league in terms of the number of deals that got done, but one of the more major deals that was agreed upon involved former Badger Tom Gilbert.

The Bloomington, Minnesota native was traded from Edmonton to his hometown Minnesota Wild for Nick Schultz.

Gilbert, who scored the game winning goal in the 2006 national championship game for the Badgers is a much needed addition to the lifeless Wild blue-line.

Gilbert is a top pairing defenseman who has 17 points in 47 games this season for the Oilers and has recorded at least 25 points in every full seasons he's played in his NHL career.

Since Minnesota traded Brent Burns this summer to San Jose, the Wild have been looking for consistent puck moving defensemen. Wild GM Chuck Fletcher is banking on Gilbert filling that role.

Blake Geoffrion Recalled By Montreal

One thing that slipped under the radar of some on deadline day was former Badger Blake Geoffrion being recalled by the Montreal Canadiens.

Geoffrion, who was traded to Montreal from Nashville a week and a half ago for Hal Gill will make his debut for the Canadiens Tuesday night.

The 2010 Hobey Baker award winner will become a fourth generation Canadien when he steps on the ice tomorrow night. Blake's father Dan Geoffrion, his grandfather 'Boom Boom' Geoffrion, and great-grandfather Howie Morenz all wore the Hab's sweater during their careers.

In an homage to his grandfather who wore number five, and his great grandfather who wore number seven, Geoffrion will wear #57 for Montreal.

Both grandparent's that Blake is honoring are members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and have their respective jersey numbers hanging from the rafters at the Bell Center in Montreal.

No pressure kid.

Brendan Smith Back With The Red Wings

One of Geoffrion's teammates from that 2010 Frozen Four Club has been called up by the Red Wings.

Detroit officially recalled Brendan Smith on Monday after trading Mike Commodore to make room for the second year pro on the Wings roster.

Smith has spent the majority of his pro career playing for Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. Smith has notched 37 points in 47 games for the Griffins this season.

The Ontario native was called up earlier this season by Detroit, and played three games on a west coast road trip. Smith notched two assists during his first stint in the NHL.

When talking about Smith on Monday, Detroit head coach Mike Babcock joked with the local media noting that if the coaching staff had it their way, Smith would have been up with the Wings long ago. Babcock insinuated that it was the choice of GM Ken Holland to keep Smith in Grand Rapids for more seasoning.

**Updated 2/27/12 3:00 PM

**=No longer on roster

If you see that I'm missing anyone, please contact me so I can make a correction.

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