The diminutive Nathan Gerbe, who led Boston College to the NCAA men's hockey title last month, has signed a contract with the Buffalo Sabres. He will forego his final year of eligibility at Boston College to turn pro. He was a fifth-round pick of the Sabres in 2005.
Gerbe led the nation in scoring this past season with 68 points (35 goals, 33 assists), and he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the nation's top player. That award was won by Michigan senior Kevin Porter, who has moved on to the Phoenix Coyotes organization.
Gerbe is only five-foot-six, but his playmaking ability is second-to-none, and he is more than willing to go in the tough areas. It's never easy for a smaller player to have great success in the NHL, but he doesn't have to look past Boston College to find one who has.
New Jersey's Brian Gionta (five-foot-seven) had a wonderful four-year career at BC, and he has scored 95 goals in the three years since the lockout.
