The latest on the Anaheim Ducks shopping veteran goaltender John Gibson, including trade likelihood and potential destinations<\/p>\n
The prospect of the Anaheim Ducks<\/a> trading veteran goaltender John Gibson<\/a> has been a recurring topic in the NHL rumour mill for several years. Once considered one of the league\u2019s premier netminders, Gibson has found himself at the centre of trade rumours season after season. While nothing has materialized yet, the stars may finally be aligning for a move as the Ducks<\/a> embrace a new era.<\/span><\/p>\n The John Gibson trade narrative is far from new. Discussions about his potential departure<\/a> have persisted for the better part of four seasons. During that time, the Ducks have struggled to emerge from their rebuilding phase, and Gibson has appeared frustrated with the team\u2019s inability to field a competitive lineup. Reports<\/a> have suggested mutual interest in a fresh start, but the combination of Gibson\u2019s hefty contract and Anaheim\u2019s previous reluctance to retain salary has consistently derailed any serious trade talks.<\/span><\/p>\n This season, however, things feel different, mostly due to the play of Lukas Dostal<\/a>. Dostal has been nothing short of phenomenal, effectively seizing the starting role and relegating Gibson to a backup position.<\/span><\/p>\n Lukas Dostal\u2019s emergence has significantly altered the Ducks\u2019 goaltending landscape. The 24-year-old Czech netminder has been outstanding to start the season, boasting a save percentage well above league average, second in \u00a0the league in goals saved above expected<\/a>, and providing consistent, reliable performances. His play has made it clear that the Ducks have found their goalie of the future, making Gibson\u2019s role redundant.<\/span><\/p>\n While this development increases the likelihood of the Ducks seeking a trade, it also complicates Gibson\u2019s value. Once a perennial Vezina Trophy contender, Gibson\u2019s numbers have steadily declined over the past few seasons. Some of this is undoubtedly due to the Ducks\u2019 struggles\u2014Gibson has faced one of the highest workloads in the league for years, often playing behind porous defences. However, questions remain about whether the wear and tear of carrying a rebuilding team has permanently impacted his game. There is no question Gibson appeared visibly frustrated against Ottawa on December 12th.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Gibson\u2019s current status as a backup only further diminishes his trade value. Teams may be hesitant to pay a premium for a goaltender who hasn\u2019t posted elite numbers in several years and now finds himself on the bench. His $6.4 million cap hit through the 2026-2027 season is another complicating factor, particularly for cap-constrained contenders. The Ducks will likely need to eat some of Gibson\u2019s salary – something they have not seemed interested in doing in the past.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the biggest questions surrounding Gibson is whether he can rediscover his peak form, or even average form, in a new environment. Over the past five seasons, his save percentage has consistently hovered below .905 and his goals against average has been above 3.00, far removed from his early career numbers. Critics argue that Gibson\u2019s decline isn\u2019t just a product of Anaheim\u2019s poor play, but also a reflection of a goalie who has been overworked and may be past his prime.<\/span><\/p>\n The Gibson rumours (esp to EDM) are intriguing to me because the guy has not had even a good season since a year before the pandemic.<\/p>\n how much faith do you put in a guy’s talent that he can go back to playing like he did when he was 25<\/p>\n \u2014 JFresh (@JFreshHockey) November 22, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n like even accounting for the Anaheim of it all he’s been one of the worst goalies in the league the past three seasons and hasn’t been above-average since 2018-19.<\/p>\n \u2014 JFresh (@JFreshHockey) November 22, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Ducks have been so futile over the last few years that knowledgeable hockey minds are using “Anaheim” as an adjective synonymous with disappointment. Still, there is precedent for goalies finding new life after a change of scenery. Sergei Bobrovsky<\/a>\u2019s resurgence in Florida and Darcy Kuemper\u2019s championship run with Colorado are recent examples of netminders who overcame rough patches to succeed with new teams. Gibson\u2019s raw talent and experience make him an intriguing gamble for teams in need of goaltending help.<\/span><\/p>\n With Colorado now off the table following their acquisition of Mackenzie Blackwood<\/a>, several other teams stand out as potential landing spots for Gibson:<\/span><\/p>\n The Hurricanes are in the market for goaltending depth due to injuries and inconsistency among their current options. Their strong defensive system could provide Gibson with the structure needed to rebound. Freddie and Gibby reunion?<\/span><\/p>\n Goaltending woes have plagued Edmonton for years. With the team desperate to maximize its championship window, Gibson could provide a stabilizing presence in net\u2014if the Oilers are willing to take on his contract. Perry, Henrique, Carrick, and Gibby reunion? (Fowler<\/a> too?)<\/span><\/p>\n Returning to his hometown team could provide Gibson with the fresh start he needs. The Penguins have been inconsistent in net, and Gibson\u2019s arrival could stabilize the position.<\/span><\/p>\n The Red Wings are a team on the rise, with a young core supported by key veteran acquisitions. While Cam Talbot<\/a> has been serviceable, Detroit could benefit from adding a proven, experienced goaltender like Gibson to help stabilize their net as they push to end their playoff drought. General Manager Steve Yzerman<\/a> has shown a willingness to make bold moves, and Gibson could be an intriguing addition.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite the Ducks\u2019 willingness to move on from Gibson, several hurdles remain. His contract is the biggest obstacle, particularly if Anaheim remains unwilling to retain salary<\/a>. Additionally, his recent performance raises concerns about whether he can provide the type of upgrade teams are seeking.<\/span><\/p>\n John Gibson’s contract also includes a 10-team no-trade clause, giving him some control over his destination. While this limits Anaheim’s options, it could still leave room for negotiations with teams that align with both his preferences and the Ducks’ trade goals.<\/span><\/p>\n However, as the trade deadline approaches, the Ducks may find themselves with little choice but to sweeten the pot. Retaining salary or including an additional asset could make Gibson a more attractive option for teams in need of goaltending help.<\/span><\/p>\n There are strong tailwinds for a Gibson trade ahead of the March 7th trade deadline. The Ducks\u2019 commitment to Lukas Dostal as their starter, combined with Gibson\u2019s desire for a change, creates a perfect storm (*cough* Carolina) for a move. While his declining performance and hefty contract present challenges, there are enough teams in need of goaltending that a trade feels inevitable. After Vegas won the Stanley Cup with Adin Hill<\/a>, Sergei Bobrovsky showed the league that a hot goalie with elite ability can win a team a championship. Whether Gibson can rediscover his form and thrive in a new environment remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: his time in Anaheim appears to be coming to an end.<\/span><\/p>\n Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The latest on the Anaheim Ducks shopping veteran goaltender John Gibson, including trade likelihood and potential destinations The prospect of the Anaheim Ducks trading veteran goaltender John Gibson has been a recurring topic in the NHL rumour mill for several years. Once considered one of the league\u2019s premier netminders, Gibson has found himself at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5399,"featured_media":458424,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20,10,4,23,4548,12,4321],"tags":[118,6492,7619,123,3430,5602,5746],"class_list":["post-458404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ducks","category-hurricanes","category-redwings","category-oilers","category-nhl","category-penguins","category-rumours","tag-anaheim-ducks","tag-anaheim-ducks-rumours","tag-anaheim-ducks-trade","tag-john-gibson","tag-lukas-dostal","tag-nhl-salaries","tag-nhl-trade"],"modified_by":"Tommy Bennett","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5399"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=458404"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458404\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":458425,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458404\/revisions\/458425"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/458424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=458404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=458404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=458404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A Longstanding Trade Narrative<\/b><\/h2>\n
Lukas Dostal\u2019s Rise and Gibson\u2019s Value<\/b><\/h3>\n
Is Gibson \u201cBroken\u201d?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Potential Trade Destinations<\/b><\/h3>\n
Carolina Hurricanes<\/b><\/h4>\n
Edmonton Oilers<\/b><\/h4>\n
Pittsburgh Penguins<\/b><\/h4>\n
Detroit Red Wings<\/b><\/h4>\n
Challenges to a Deal<\/b><\/h3>\n
Conclusion<\/b><\/h3>\n