Star goaltender is linked with the Edmonton Oilers for a trade
Photo credit: Imagn Images
The debate over if the Edmonton Oilers need a goaltending upgrade continues, with Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson as a rumored target to replace Stuart Skinner.
While some believe Gibson could stabilize Edmonton's crease, Oilers reporter Jason Gregor remains skeptical about whether he would be an upgrade or not over Stuart Skinner.
John Gibson has had a solid statistical season on a struggling Ducks team by posting a 2.69 GAA and a .915 save percentage but goalie expert Kevin Woodley pointed out concerns about his play, particularly his struggles with low-slot chances.
"He's having a really good year this year. Let's put an emphasis point on that. His numbers, on the season as a whole, are slightly better than anything that's going on with the Oilers right now. Both him and Dostal (the other ANA goalie) are both top 20 in the NHL in adjusted numbers right now.
«And yet the caveat I would have, is that even within the good, there are some things that have plagued him statistically that continue to plague him. One is low slot line play, which is pucks across the middle of the ice below the hash marks. And that's a statistic that for the last number of years, he is very underwater on - like, significantly. It's actually one of his biggest negative assets. And even in a great season, that number remains problematic.
- Kevin Woodley
«And yet the caveat I would have, is that even within the good, there are some things that have plagued him statistically that continue to plague him. One is low slot line play, which is pucks across the middle of the ice below the hash marks. And that's a statistic that for the last number of years, he is very underwater on - like, significantly. It's actually one of his biggest negative assets. And even in a great season, that number remains problematic.
- Kevin Woodley
Despite an improved year, his historical weaknesses remain a red flag and are raising doubts about his ability to thrive in Edmonton's system.
The Oilers are in a tough spot with their salary cap situation and even if Gibson is available and willing to waive his no-movement clause, Edmonton would need Anaheim to retain 50% of his $6.4 million cap hit.
Additionally, uncertainty surrounding Evander Kane's LTIR status complicates the Oilers' financial flexibility and is making a trade challenging since they were counting on this salary on the LTIR to make it work.
Stan Bowman will likely explore goaltending options given the doubts surrounding Skinner as a playoff-caliber starter.
With backup Calvin Pickard as the current alternative, some believe Edmonton must secure a more reliable option to make a deep Stanley Cup run.
Whether or not Gibson is the right choice remains up for debate, but if Edmonton decides to acquire John Gibson, they may have to ride with Skinner and Pickard.
Would you prefer the Oilers to push for a goalie like Gibson, or do you think Skinner deserves the chance to prove himself in the playoffs?
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FEVRIER 15 | 286 ANSWERS Star goaltender is linked with the Edmonton Oilers for a trade Who would you like to be the first goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers? | ||
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