Polarizing Goalie Decision Looks Different for the Oilers Right Now

The Edmonton Oilers are trying to answer a whole new set of goaltender questions these days, but it wasn’t that long ago that many wondered if their best solution was to make a trade with the Anaheim Ducks for John Gibson. Over the summer, there was real weight given to that rumor, but the Oilers ultimately chose to start the season with the same tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, eventually trading Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry.

Today, as the Oilers’ crease remains a bit of a mystery, they may be watching a familiar goaltending storyline unfold — the guy they weren’t sure about is lighting it up for another team.

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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 much different story. Through late November, the veteran goaltender looked like a miss for Detroit, owning a sub-.870 save percentage and ranking near the bottom of the league in goals saved above expected. Since Dec. 1, everything has changed.

Harman Dayal of The Athletic writes:

“…Gibson has flipped the script and bounced back 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-best in the league) since Dec 1. Gibson’s performance through the first several weeks was so underwhelming that his full-season numbers (.896 save percentage) are pretty average despite his recent hot streak. But the critical point is that he’s clearly turned a corner.”

Did the Oilers Miss When It Came to Gibson?

Back in June, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman openly acknowledged the team would explore the goaltending market. Gibson’s name had been circulating, and with his contract entering a more manageable phase, the fit appeared realistic. Anaheim was willing to move him, and reports suggested salary retention was at least a discussion point.

Cost and risk, however, became a factor. The Ducks were believed to be asking for premium assets — potentially 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, valuing both performance and cap flexibility.

As Oilers fans now know, that situation drastically changed.

Gibson’s $6.4 million cap hit was the sticking point. However, the Oilers ultimately wound up trading Skinner and Brett Kulak to take on the $5.375 million that is Jarry’s contract. Edmonton lost its 1B goalie, moved a solid defenseman, and acquired a netminder who lasted all of three games before getting injured.

Clearly, the Jarry trade could still work out to be a win for Edmonton. It’s too early to judge the trade as a success or a failure. However, Detroit looks like they made a solid bet on Gibson and one has to wonder if the Oilers look back at what might have been. If Gibson continues to thrive in Detroit, the Oilers may be left wondering whether patience — or caution — ultimately cost them a rare opportunity to upgrade in net.

Next: The Corey Perry Void: Did the Oilers Blink First?