COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed forward Nathan Gerbe to a one-year, two-way NHL/AHL Contract for the rest of the 2017-18 season, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. Gerbe will be placed on waivers for the purposes of assignment to the Cleveland Monsters, Columbus' American Hockey League affiliate.

Gerbe, 30, registered 58 goals and 80 assists for 138 points and 172 penalty minutes in 394 career NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes from 2008-16 and added 3-1-4 in nine Stanley Cup playoff contests. He posted four seasons of 25 or more points, including setting career highs in goals and points with 16-15-31 in 64 contests with Buffalo in 2010-11. The forward later tied his career high in goals and points with 16-15-31 in a career-high 81 games with Carolina in 2014-15. He most recently recorded 3-4-7 and 14 penalty minutes in 47 games with the Hurricanes in 2015-16.

The Oxford, Michigan native has spent the past two campaigns with Genève-Servette HC in the Swiss League, posting 13-22-35 and 107 penalty minutes in 38 games. He has recorded 2-5-7 and 85 penalty minutes in 19 games with Genève-Servette HC this season.

The 5-4, 176-pound forward has also notched 41-53-94 and 109 penalty minutes in 101 career AHL games with the Portland Pirates from 2008-10. Originally drafted by the Sabres in the fifth round, 142nd overall, in the 2005 NHL Draft, he finished his collegiate career with 71-62-133, 216 penalty minutes and a +43 plus/minus rating in 123 career games at Boston College from 2005-08. He helped the Eagles win a National Championship and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for top collegiate hockey player in 2007-08 after leading the NCAA in goals and points with 35-33-68 in 43 games.