 With limited offensive ability Gillies plied his trade between the ECHL and American Hockey League (AHL) for five years before signing an NHL contract with the New York Rangers on July 20, 2004.Prior to the 2005–06 season and in his second year with the Rangers affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, Gillies was traded from the Rangers to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for Steve Rucchin on August 5, 2005.He was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, and played in one NHL game for the Ducks, recording 21 penalty minutes in 2 minutes, 40 seconds of ice time.