Trading for John Gibson Would be a Mistake for the Devils

The New Jersey Devils might be in the market for a veteran goalie this offseason, but it shouldn’t be Anaheim’s John Gibson.

According to Bleacher Report’s Frank Servalli, John Gibson has requested a trade from the Anaheim Ducks.

Gibson, 29, posted an .899 save percentage with a 3.99 goals against average in the 2022-23 season. However, he faced the 2nd most shots out of any goaltender in the league. There’s some speculation as to whether his dip in statistical performance is due to the horrific defensive structure in front of him. That point is correct, the Ducks defense has been a disaster for years.

Gibson has consistently faced more shots than most starters in the league. The last time he played in front of a playoff team he posted a .926 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average. That was in the 2017-18 season so quite a bit of time has passed.

So why would Gibson be a bad move? The Ducks let him out to dry the last few years and the Devils are a great team. John Gibson and the New Jersey Devils are a perfect fit for each other, until the contract comes into the picture.

John Gibson currently has four years left on his contract with a $6.4 million cap hit. Even if Anaheim retained salary, the term and money is too much of a financial risk. Dawson Mercer, Luke Hughes and Akira Schmid are due for raises in that time period. Getting caught in an albatross can derail a team’s plans in the NHL. Given the unforgiving nature of a hard cap, having a deal like Gibson’s on the books as a team trying to compete isn’t worth the risk. The reward and potential upside are extremely enticing, but it’s not worth it.

Tom Fitzgerald has managed the cap almost perfectly, it’d be a shame if he made a deal for Gibson.

Stay tuned for more New Jersey Devils and NHL content, including trades, signings, and various updates.

Featured image courtesy of NHL.com

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