In his rookie season with Montreal in 1988-89, Brent Gilchrist helped the Habs reach the Stanley Cup final. From 1989 to 1992, he took part in at least 50 games every season, playing a primarily defensive role while making key offensive contributions.

Considered a two-way player who delivered a solid game at both ends of the ice, he was chosen 79th overall by the Canadiens in the 1985 draft after spending two seasons in the junior ranks with the Kelowna Wings. Following his selection, Gilchrist spent two more years in junior hockey with the Spokane Chiefs, with whom he compiled a pair of 45-goal seasons.

The Moose Jaw native spent one season with the Sherbrooke Canadiens before making the leap to the NHL, averaging nearly a point a game with 74 points in 77 games in the AHL.

In 1991-92, his last season with the Canadiens, he had 23 goals and 27 assists in 79 games while maintaining a team-leading plus-29. Gilchrist’s career turned in a new direction in August of that year when he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers along with Shayne Corson and Vladimir Vujtek in exchange for Vincent Damphousse.

In 236 games with the Canadiens, Gilchrist scored 46 goals and 67 assists for a total of 113 points.

Gilchrist subsequently joined the Minnesota North Stars, who moved to Dallas the following season. His next stop was with Detroit, where he won his only Stanley Cup as a member of the 1997-98 Red Wings. He returned to Dallas in 2002 before spending one more season with Nashville. The back problems that sidelined him for most of the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons returned during his stint with the Predators, forcing him to retire.