Dan "Gilly" McGillis

Birthdate: 1 July 1972
Birthplace: Hawksebury, Ontario
Height: 6'2
Weight: 225lbs
Sweater Number: 3
Position: Defense
Drafted: Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the 10th round (238th overall) of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Traded to Edmonton for Kirk Maltby on 3/20/96. Traded with 2nd round pick (Jason Beckett) to Philadelphia for Janne Niinimaa on 3/24/98.
Marital Status: Single

Career Notes

1991-92: Drafted by the Red Wings
1992-93: Played with Northeastern (HE). Named Hockey East Rookie of the Year.
1993-94: Played with Northeastern (HE)
1994-95: Played with Northeastern (HE) Named to Hockey East First All-Star team.
1995-96: Traded by Red Wings to Edmonton for Kirk Maltby on March 20th, 1996. Named to Hockey East First All-Star team and NCAA East First All-America team.
1996-97: Led Edmonton and all NHL rookies in plus/minus during 1997 Playoffs (+8). Second among Oilers defenseman and fifth among NHL rookie defenseman in scoring with 22 points (6G, 16A). Set a career high for assists and points in a game with three at San Jose on March 24, 1997. Scored two goals at Washington on Jan. 26, 1997, his only multiple-goal game in the NHL. Scored his first NHL goal on Nov. 26, 1996, at Calgary. Registered an assist in his first NHL game on Oct. 4, 1996, vs. Buffalo
1997-98: Acquired by the Flyers, along with a second round pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft (Jason Beckett), from Edmonton in exchange for Janne Niinimaa on March 24, 1998. Scored his first NHL playoff goal 4/27/98 at Buffalo. Scored power-play goal at Tampa Bay 4/8/98, his first goal as a Flyer
1998-99: Led team (seventh in NHL) in hits (220). Second on team in power play assists (21). Tied for second on team in power play points (27). Third on team in game-winning goals(four). Tied his career high for assists in a game with three vs. Montreal 2/4/99
1999-2000: Led team in hits (264, seventh in NHL). During playoffs, ranked sixth among NHL defenseman in points (8). Recorded at least one point (2A) in two straight games (5/18/00-5/20/00). Played a game-high 61:05 recorded an assist on the game winning goal in 5 OT contest at Pittsburgh 5/4/00. Recorded a goal and assist in Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series-clinching win vs. Buffalo 4/20/00. Recorded three-game scoring streakon two separate occasions (1G, 2A:2/12/00-2/17/00; 1G, 3A: 10/17/99-10/22/99). Registered an assist, his 50th as a Flyer, at Florida 1/17/00. Registered his 100th career point, an assist, 10/20/99 vs. NY Rangers.
2000-01: Winner of the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers best defenseman. Co-winner (with Simon Gagne) of the Pelle Lindberg Memorial Trophy as the Most Improved Flyer as voted by his teammates.
2001-02: Played for Team Canada at the World Championships in Sweden.

Profile

I'll admit it: I was one of the many Flyers fans who moaned when I discovered that Janne Niinimaa had been traded to Edmonton for some guy named Dan McGillis and a second-round draft pick. I used to tell my fellow fans "I miss Janne!" Now Janne's a great player and even an All-Star this season, but I think this trade has turned out well for both teams. Dan McGillis's offensive numbers continue to improve (with his haircut) and he brings a physical element to the game that Niinimaa never could.

McGillis a big physical defenseman who hits hard and possesses a hard, if occasionally inaccurate, shot from the point. He plays a generally smart game (especially in comparison to "Spaz" Niinimaa) and is an excellent passer with decent speed. He plays with a mean streak and he's often among the league-leaders in hits. As the Flyers no. 2 defenseman, he's picked up a lot of the burden during this season (which has been a mediocre one for captain Eric Desjardins) and logged a lot of minutes in all sorts of situations. His play continues to make Bob Clarke's initially horrific trade look better and better.

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