Brandon Gignac Bio
Brandon Gignac is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for EHC Kloten of the Swiss-based National League (NL). He was selected in the third round, 80th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2016 National Hockey League (NHL) entry draft. Gignac has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens and built a noteworthy career in several North American developmental leagues, including the American Hockey League (AHL) and the ECHL.
Standing 180 cm tall and weighing 88 kg, Gignac has spent the bulk of his professional years in the minors, working his way up to brief NHL stints with both New Jersey and Montreal. In the summer of 2025, he signed his first contract overseas, agreeing to a two-year deal with EHC Kloten that runs through 2027.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Gignac was born on November 7, 1997, in Repentigny, Quebec, Canada. Repentigny, located on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River northeast of Montreal, is a community with a long tradition of producing competitive hockey players. Growing up in this hockey-rich region of Quebec, Gignac was surrounded by the sport from a young age and entered the major junior pathway as a teenager.
Before turning professional, Gignac represented Hockey Canada as a member of Team Canada Quebec at the 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. His team finished in fourth place that year after a loss to Russia in the bronze medal game. The tournament offered Gignac early exposure to high-level international competition and helped set the stage for his later draft selection.
Path to Professional Hockey
Gignac played major junior hockey with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). His time with the Cataractes allowed him to refine his two-way game and attract the attention of NHL scouts. That development culminated in the 2016 NHL entry draft, when the New Jersey Devils selected him in the third round, 80th overall.
During his final season with the Cataractes in 2016–17, Gignac signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils on November 12, 2016. After a first-round defeat in the QMJHL playoffs that spring, he joined the Devils’ AHL affiliate, the Albany Devils, on an amateur tryout basis. Gignac made his professional debut in Albany’s penultimate regular-season game, a 5–4 loss to the Rochester Americans on April 14, 2017.
Brandon Gignac Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
In his first full professional season, Gignac was assigned to the Binghamton Devils for their inaugural AHL campaign in 2017–18. Through his first two months, he contributed two goals and one assist while continuing to develop his two-way game. His progress was halted on December 13, 2017, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury, tearing both his ACL and MCL.
Gignac returned to health in time for the Devils’ training camp before the 2018–19 season. On March 9, 2019, he received his first NHL call-up and made his NHL debut that night, registering one shot and skating for 9:04 minutes in a 4–2 loss to the New York Rangers. The appearance marked the culmination of his recovery and his first taste of top-level hockey.
Devils Organization and ECHL Stint (2019–2021)
In his final year with the Devils organization, Gignac was assigned to the ECHL, where he suited up for the Jacksonville Icemen. He became a restricted free agent at the end of the 2020–21 season. Although he was left unprotected in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft, he ultimately went unselected. The Devils did not extend him a qualifying offer, and Gignac became an unrestricted free agent.
Laval Rocket and Montreal Canadiens (2021–2025)
On July 29, 2021, Gignac signed a one-year contract with the Laval Rocket of the AHL. He posted 10 goals and 26 points in 48 games during the 2021–22 season, performance that earned him a two-year extension on July 9, 2022. By the 2023–24 season, he was leading the Rocket in scoring with 42 points through 43 games.
That production led to a two-year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens on February 4, 2024, and a same-day recall to the NHL. Gignac made his Canadiens debut on February 7, 2024, in a 5–2 win over the Washington Capitals. Six days later, on February 13, he scored his first career NHL goal in a 5–0 shutout victory against the Anaheim Ducks. After clearing waivers to begin 2024–25, he was named an alternate captain of the Rocket on October 11, 2024.
EHC Kloten Era (2025–Present)
In June 2025, Gignac signed his first contract overseas, agreeing to a two-year deal with EHC Kloten of the Swiss-based National League. The move represented a fresh chapter after years of grinding through the North American minors and brief NHL appearances. He is expected to serve as a centre and offensive contributor for Kloten through the 2026–27 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gignac is recognized as a two-way centre with strong playmaking instincts and a willingness to compete in all three zones. His offensive game developed steadily in the AHL, where he produced multi-point scoring seasons with the Rocket. Defensively responsible and reliable on draws, he has built his reputation on consistency and effort as much as on goal scoring.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Gignac’s defining career moments are his NHL debut with the Devils on March 9, 2019, and his first NHL goal, scored against the Anaheim Ducks on February 13, 2024. His recovery from a torn ACL and MCL in December 2017 and subsequent return to professional hockey also stand out as a milestone of perseverance. The 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge with Team Canada Quebec remains a notable early-career highlight on the international stage.
Brandon Gignac Career Wins
While detailed win totals across leagues are not fully verified, Gignac has recorded several notable individual and team accomplishments. He led the Laval Rocket in scoring during the 2023–24 AHL season and earned his first NHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens after years of steady minor-league production. His first NHL goal, scored against the Anaheim Ducks, marked a personal milestone.
Laval Rocket Highlights
Gignac enjoyed his most productive stretch with the Laval Rocket from 2021 through 2025. He registered 10 goals and 26 points in 48 games during 2021–22 and was leading the team in scoring with 42 points through 43 games in 2023–24, when his play earned him a two-year NHL deal with Montreal. He was later named an alternate captain of the Rocket for the 2024–25 season.
Brandon Gignac Family
Personal Life
Public details about Brandon Gignac’s personal and family life remain limited. He was born and raised in Repentigny, Quebec, and continues his professional career abroad while signed through 2027 with EHC Kloten.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year represents a significant transition for Brandon Gignac. After spending most of the previous campaign as an alternate captain with the Laval Rocket, he signed a two-year contract with EHC Kloten of the Swiss National League in June 2025, embarking on his first professional stint overseas. The move gives him an opportunity to take on a featured role in a top European league.
Gignac is expected to play a key role for Kloten through the 2026–27 season, providing two-way play and offensive production from the centre position. His familiarity with high-tempo, structured systems developed in the AHL should translate well to the Swiss game. With his contract running through 2027, the 2025–26 campaign offers Gignac a chance to establish himself as a difference-maker in Europe.