Rick Kowalsky on how Devils hit the jackpot with their gamble on Brian Gibbons

New Jersey Devils left wing Brian Gibbons (39) celebrates his winning goal in overtime as Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nick Jensen (3) skates past at an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, in Detroit. (Rick Kowalsky wasn't sure what he was getting when the Albany Devils signed forward Brian Gibbons to a one-year AHL contract on Oct. 4, 2016.

Kowalsky, the Devils' AHL coach, saw Gibbons' career transform from afar. When his name came up, Kowalsky and Albany Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald decided to gamble.

Gibbons went from being a talented, fast kid rising through the Pittsburgh Penguins' organization to becoming a player who bounced around the AHL for two seasons, where he seemed to lose his…