The Edmonton Oilers are trying to answer a whole new set of goaltender questions these days, but it wasn’t long ago that many wondered if trading to the Anaheim Ducks for John Gibson was their best solution. Over the summer, real weight was given to that rumor, but the Oilers ultimately opted to start the season with the same tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, ultimately trading Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry.
These days, as the Oilers’ crease is still a bit of a mystery, they may see a familiar goaltending storyline unfold: the guy they weren’t sure about, lights it up for another team.
Gibson has quietly revived his value this season after landing with the Detroit Red Wings. His season didn’t start well, but lately it’s been a completely different story. Until late November, the veteran goaltender looked like a miss for Detroit, with a save percentage below .870 and ranking near the bottom of the league in goals saved above expectations. Everything has changed since December 1.
Harman Dayal of The Athletic writes:
“…Gibson has flipped the script and returned as one of the sport’s hottest goalies. The 32-year-old veteran is 10-2-0 with a sparkling .926 save percentage (tied for third in the league) since December 1. Gibson’s performance through the first few weeks has been so disappointing that his full-season numbers (.896 save percentage) are fairly average despite his recent strong streak. But the critical point is that he is clearly a turned a corner.
Did the Oilers miss out when it came to Gibson?
In June, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman openly acknowledged that the team would explore the goaltending market. Gibson’s name was circulating, and with his contract entering a more manageable phase, the match seemed realistic. Anaheim was willing to move him, and reports suggested salary retention was at least a moot point.
However, cost and risk became a factor. The Ducks were believed to be asking for premium assets — possibly a first-round pick or more — and Gibson’s injury history made Edmonton hesitant to pay that price. The Oilers ultimately stuck with Skinner and Pickard, appreciating both the performance and flexibility of the caps.
As Oilers fans now know, that situation has changed dramatically.
Gibson’s $6.4 million cap hit was the sticking point. However, the Oilers ultimately traded Skinner and Brett Kulak to take over the $5.375 million that is Jarry’s contract. Edmonton lost its 1B goalie, moved a solid defenseman and gained a netminder who lasted all three games before getting injured.
Clearly, the Jarry trade could still be a win for Edmonton. It is too early to judge the trade as a success or a failure. However, it appears that Detroit made a big bet on Gibson and you have to wonder if the Oilers are looking back on what could have been. If Gibson continues to thrive in Detroit, the Oilers may wonder whether patience — or caution — ultimately cost them a rare opportunity to upgrade their network.
Next: The Corey Perry Void: Did the Oilers blink first?
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