Kurtis Gabriel sat hunched at the tabe like a man with a score to settle.
The journeyman forward’s NHL career had some setbacks in the past, but here he was Friday at the United Center having his introductory news conference a week after the Chicago Blackhawks traded for him.
Somebody wanted him.
“The old (Blackhawks) regime never had any interest in me, so when there was a change, I think it’s pretty cool that they thought I fit the bill for this role,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been working my whole life towards. I’m 28, this is my eighth-year pro, I’ve had stints and never been able to kind of stick, so I’m really trying to find a home here.”
Gabriel made his Hawks debut Friday night against the Nashville Predators at the United Center, entering at the 2-minute, 17-second mark of the first period. But it took a long road to get there.
He made the Ontario Hockey League’s Owen Sound Attack in 2010 as a walk-on but was passed over in the 2011 and ’12 NHL drafts. The Minnesota Wild selected him in the third round in 2013.
In his third season with the AHL Iowa Wild, he was called up to Minnesota and played three games in 2015-16. He played 13 more games in 2016-17 and 42 games back in Iowa the next season in his last go-round with the Wild organization on the first of a series one-year deals.
The next season he played 22 games for the New Jersey Devils, spent all of 2019-20 with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers and then latched onto the San Jose Sharks for 11 games.
He signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs in July.
“Hockey goes the way it goes. You can’t control everything,” Gabriel said. “I thought I had a really good camp and feel really good this year.”
The Leafs placed him on waivers and assigned him to the AHL Toronto Marlies, where he registered a goal and an assist in 13 games.
The Hawks on Nov. 9 acquired Gabriel in exchange for defensive prospect Chad Krys.
“Just so excited for this opportunity. Another Original Six team,” he said. “You want to go where you’re wanted and where you have an opportunity, and that’s here right now, so I couldn’t be happier.”
Gabriel wasn’t surprised by the Hawks’ recent interest, he said Friday. Since he was last available as a free agent, the Hawks have changed leadership from Stan Bowman and Jeremy Colliton to Kyle Davidson and Derek King.
“I think it makes sense,” Gabriel said.
King has plans for the 6-foot-6, 212-pound winger, who is no stranger to dropping gloves.
“Big body, he knows what he needs to do and hopefully get on the forecheck and play a simple game and get in front of that net and cause a little havoc,” King said.
Gabriel has no illusions about what is expected of him.
“Just physical, going to play north-south, simple game, try to be extremely detailed and play a really team-oriented game,” he said. “And whenever the rough stuff gets going, that’s when I get going, and I’d love to play that game, it’s no secret.”
NHL postponements cause a change in the Blackhawks schedule
The NHL postponed several games for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers because of COVID-19 outbreaks.
The pause for the three teams will last at least through Christmas and affects the Blackhawks schedule.
The Hawks’ game against the Panthers, originally set for Tuesday at the United Center, will be rescheduled. At least seven Panthers players have entered the COVID-19 protocol this week, according to the team website.
The Hawks are working with the United Center on another date for the Panthers game. The Blackhawks said in a statement that tickets for the postponed game will be valid for the rescheduled contest.