Derek Nesbitt

Derek Nesbitt (born April 16, 1982) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and the current head coach of the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.

Derek Nesbitt
Born	(1982-04-16) April 16, 1982 (age 43) Egmondville, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Rockford IceHogs San Antonio Rampage Manitoba Moose Peoria Rivermen WBS Penguins Oklahoma City Barons Chicago Wolves HC Bolzano
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2005–2022

Playing career

Nesbitt, who was not selected in the NHL Draft, played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the 2012-13 season after being acquired from the Peoria Rivermen in a trade on April 10, 2013.^[1]

On July 12, 2013, Nesbitt agreed to a one-year AHL contract with the Oklahoma City Barons as a free agent.^[2] Nesbitt started the 2013-14 season with the Barons, scoring 10 goals and 19 points in 38 games before he was traded to the San Antonio Rampage on January 17, 2014. His second stint with the Rampage lasted just 5 games before he was again traded for future considerations to the Chicago Wolves on February 8, 2014.^[3]

As a free agent, Nesbitt chose to continue his career in Europe by signing a one-year deal with HC Bolzano, the reigning champions of the EBEL, on August 20, 2014.^[4] After spending a season in Austria, he came back to North America, rejoining the Gwinnett Gladiators, who would later be renamed the Atlanta Gladiators, for a fourth stint on a one-year contract signed August 1, 2015.^[5]

After six seasons as a key player and team captain with the Atlanta Gladiators, Nesbitt announced his retirement from professional hockey on 2022-07-11, concluding a 16-year playing career.^[6]

On November 8, 2022, Nesbitt was appointed as the Assistant Coach of the Gladiators.^[7]

On 2023-06-6, the Atlanta Gladiators named Nesbitt as the sixth head coach in the franchise's history.^[8]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2001–02	Ferris State University	CCHA		36	9	11	20	16		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Ferris State University	CCHA		42	20	33	53	26		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Ferris State University	CCHA		38	11	17	28	36		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Ferris State University	CCHA		38	19	21	40	44		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs	CHL		—	—	—	—	—		7	0	5	5	0
2005–06	Gwinnett Gladiators	ECHL		71	26	43	69	6		17	6	7	13	8
2006–07	Idaho Steelheads	ECHL		66	30	51	81	32		22	6	12	18	8
2007–08	Gwinnett Gladiators	ECHL		26	11	28	39	4		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		46	17	18	35	6		12	3	3	6	12
2008–09	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		49	6	9	15	6		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Manitoba Moose	AHL		5	0	4	4	0		1	0	0	0	0
2009–10	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		23	4	1	5	6		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Toledo Walleye	ECHL		37	11	22	33	15		4	3	1	4	0
2010–11	Gwinnett Gladiators	ECHL		11	8	10	18	6		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Peoria Rivermen	AHL		55	17	25	42	12		4	0	2	2	0
2011–12	Peoria Rivermen	AHL		75	22	33	55	14		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Peoria Rivermen	AHL		66	26	21	47	18		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		1	0	0	0	0		14	0	6	6	4
2013–14	Oklahoma City Barons	AHL		38	10	9	19	16		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		5	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Chicago Wolves	AHL		9	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	HC Bolzano	EBEL		53	14	28	42	14		7	3	4	7	0
2015–16	Atlanta Gladiators	ECHL		72	28	34	62	20		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Atlanta Gladiators	ECHL		72	27	25	52	20		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Atlanta Gladiators	ECHL		71	15	22	37	18		4	2	0	2	0
2018–19	Atlanta Gladiators	ECHL		64	18	32	50	12		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Atlanta Gladiators	ECHL		60	15	31	46	10		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Atlanta Gladiators	ECHL		65	18	33	51	12		4	1	1	2	0
AHL totals				372	104	121	225	78		31	3	11	14	16