Edmonton Oilers sign defenseman Tom Gilbert to 6-year contract

4/11/2008 5:42 PM

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Tom Gilbert to a six-year, $24 million contract Friday.

The 25-year-old Gilbert, a former University of Wisconsin player from Bloomington, Minn., was second among rookie defensemen with 33 points (13 goals and 20 assists) and led all NHL freshmen with 159 blocked shots.

Gilbert will play for the United States next month in the world championships in Halifax and Quebec City.