Goaltender John Gibson has been a fixture between the pipes in Anaheim for the better part of a decade now and is one of their longest-tenured players. However, it appears that he’s hoping his time with the team has come to an end as Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports that the veteran has told the team that he is ready for a change of scenery. Lisa Dillman of the Orange County Register adds that the request was made last month.
In his end-of-season presser back in April, Gibson made it clear that he wants to win. He hasn’t been doing much of that lately as the Ducks have missed the playoffs in each of the last five years. Although they’ve made some good progress in their rebuild by adding several key youngsters to the puzzle (including another with the second-overall pick later this month), they’re still not at the point yet where they’re ready to emerge as a consistent playoff contender.
With the team in front of him struggling, Gibson has seen his performance drop steadily as well. He posted a 3.99 GAA this season, leading the league in goals allowed (200) and losses (31) although he still managed a .899 SV% which is right around the league average. His highest save percentage over the last four seasons is .904 after putting up four straight seasons of .917 or better so it’s not as if this was a one-time dip.
It’s Gibson’s previous performance back when Anaheim was a playoff-caliber team that is likely to have teams interested in him this summer. How much of his weakened performance was due to the struggles of the team in front of him, particularly their back end which has gotten considerably weaker over the years? Is he still an above-average goalie with a better team in front of him? If teams believe so, he’ll shoot to either the top of the list or close to it for desired acquisitions this summer in a goalie market that doesn’t have a lot of number one options.
However, the 29-year-old does have a bit of a pricey contract, one that has four years remaining at a $6.4MM AAV. While plenty of teams could use a goaltending upgrade, not many of them can necessarily afford to take on the full freight of that deal. Anaheim hasn’t used any of their three salary retention slots for 2023-24 and beyond although it should be noted that they have two retentions on the books (defensemen John Klingberg and Dmitry Kulikov) until July 1st. Would they be willing to carry some dead cap space for four seasons to help facilitate a trade? Alternatively, taking a high-priced contract back as an offset might be more palatable for GM Pat Verbeek.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Anaheim look to get a goaltender back as part of a return if they move Gibson. Veteran Anthony Stolarz battled injury issues this season and is set to his unrestricted free agency and while Lukas Dostal might be ready to move up full-time to the NHL, he’s far from ready to take over as the starter. If not, they’ll have to turn to free agency for a replacement but Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry is the only true number one on the market, assuming he doesn’t re-sign in the coming weeks.
Seravalli noted that Gibson was available last summer but the asking price was quite high. While their asking price is still likely on the high side, if they’re more motivated to move him now as a result of Gibson’s ask, there’s a good chance that he’ll be suiting up somewhere else next season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
A goalie is only as good as his defense
After watching Gibson play last season, with a horrible defense I might add, it was evident that his heart wasn’t in it and he was very frustrated.
I don’t think the Ducks really have much of a choice but to trade Gibby. He deserves a chance to play on a contender.
I think he will excel beyond expectations if he finds the right team. I don’t want him to depart, but it is his time.
On the other hand, the must get back quality for quality.
4 years left at $6.4mil per. How much will the Ducks be willing to retain?
The guy’s spent the last four seasons proving that his days of being an elite goaltender are long past. Possibly some desperate team will overpay to get him, and will get what they deserve.
No one is going to give up anything major for him.
I imagine alot of Ducks would like to waddle out of Anaheim. Not sure Gibby is the same goalie he was just a few years ago though.
@Gbear – You know things aren’t going well when Steve & Dan have to occasionally trot out the dreaded, “He probably should have stopped that one.” They really feel bad for Gibby during those moments.
Gibson for Merzlikins and a 2nd? Ana saves about $1 mill a year and gets another high pick. Or even Elvis and Bean for Gibson? Adds a youngish D to Ana.
I really can’t see ANA getting any kind of value back; bad contract/change of scenery for the same, maybe….
This trade has vegas written all over it.
Why?
Brendon Gallagher for Gibson. Ducks get a vet, a leader and a guy who plays hard and the right way. Habs get to trade Allen, draft a goalie this year and it gives him and montembault 4 years, if the top goalie is left with there 2nd 1st rounder hopfully the Habs take him
The best available netminder assuming Hellebuyck is not on the block. If I were the Kings I’d make a phone call. LA has a ton of prospects, They need a no. 1 and the Ducks are rebuilding.
The Dux can have Petersen and a prospect/pick combo, and the Kings can take Gibby at full price without ‘too much’pain towards the cap…
Yes, it’s wishful thinking, but if you don’t ask for the World, you’ll never get it..
And if Anaheim did take Petersen, they’ll for sure be getting top picks in the draft these next 2-3 seasons…
#GoKings
Young enough to rebound, but moving that contract is going to be tough with most of the contenders up against the cap…
Pittsburgh please! Rust, POJ and a 2nd for Gibby or something similar. I dunno just make it happen Kyle.
For what the Ducks might get in return for Gibson., well, the goalie market this year is pretty thin so that helps. It could also depend on jhow much the Ducks are willing to retain. The more they retain the more they may get.
That’s true, but the converse is that cap space league-wide is so sparse, no one’s going to commit for four more years at $6.4 each to someone who hasn’t had a season better than mediocre in several years. Heck, just last year we saw a team have to be bribed someone to take the reigning *Vezina winner*, and another bribed to take on a nearly point-a-game scorer.
Never mind that here’s the kicker. You can have Andersen for FREE. Korpisalo for FREE. Varlamov for FREE. Jarry for FREE. Brossoit, Hill, Raanta … you can have Swayman or Gustavsson for likely not nearly as much as they’re worth, given how strapped their teams are for cap space. And for each of them — with the arguable exception of Korpisalo — you can sign them for no worse, and often a good bit less, than Gibson is making.
So why in the merry hell would you pay Anaheim for a badly overpayed goalie who’s had several bad seasons in a row, instead?