NHL Source: Devils Fitzgerald Re-Engaging in Gibson (+)

James Nichols

December 13, 2023

Anaheim Ducks goaltender, John Gibson, didn’t appear on TSN’s first trade bait list of the season. However, the Ducks’ early season surge is over and in the standings, Anaheim has returned to the NHL’s basement. As the Ducks continue to navigate their way through a rebuild, Gibson is an asset that could certainly net something that adds to Anaheim’s future. Enter the New Jersey Devils who could use a boost in net and have some assets to spare. Well, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is re-engaging in Gibson as a possible upgrade in net.

The recent play of Akira Schmid has been encouraging. In his last six games, the Swiss goaltender has accrued three wins, putting together a 2.62 GAA and .916 SV%. Vitek Vanecek’s last game was a bit more encouraging, too. However, the sample of his negative games far outweighs the positives.

Realistically, the Devils’ goaltending is still very much in question and could use stability.

After speaking with some NHL sources, New Jersey Hockey Now has learned that the Devils’ GM has inquired about Gibson as recently as last week.

According to an NHL source, Fitzgerald has been keeping a closer eye on Gibson, reaching out to multiple sources close to Gibson last week to make as informed of a decision as possible on the Ducks goaltender and his potential fit in New Jersey. The Devils’ GM was engaged in Gibson discussion over the summer, however, that fizzled out until recently.

There’s a history between Fitzgerald and Gibson. The Penguins desperately wanted the native of Pittsburgh back when Gibson played in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. At the time, Fitzgerald was the assistant general manager of the Penguins and saw a lot of Gibson before he was drafted. Fitzgerald was at the forefront of the Gibson train. However, Anaheim snagged him at 39th overall in 2011.

Looking at the market, if Fitzgerald pulls the trigger on an upgrade in net, Gibson appears his best option. Word is the Arizona Coyotes are getting calls on goaltender Karel Vejmelka. However, a source tells NJHN that it’s unlikely the Coyotes move the Arizona goaltender at this time with such low value due to the recent Czech goaltender’s play and deployment. The goaltenders in Montreal are seemingly a lateral move from what New Jersey can currently deploy, as are any other options elsewhere.

Here’s the thing with Gibson. First, injury history is certainly a factor. The Ducks goaltender tends to miss time because of it which the Devils can’t afford down the stretch and in a playoff hunt. However, in four of the last five seasons, Gibson’s made 50-plus starts. That’s enough evidence to suggest it’s not as big of a concern as it used to be.

Here are the numbers for this year. In his first 11 starts, Gibson was stellar. Anaheim was going better than expected, too. The Ducks goaltender collected a .927 SV% in that run. Things have regressed to the mean since then with the Ducks. Still, Gibson’s numbers remain solid with a .906 SV% and 2.83 GAA, which is leaps and bounds better than his 3.99 GAA from last season. There’s an argument to be made that his 3.99 GAA last season wasn’t entirely his own doing, but instead, the result of a defensively deficient team in front of him.

The Ducks are in town this week. They play the New York Islanders tonight, the New York Rangers on Friday, and are in Newark on Sunday to play New Jersey. That’s not to suggest anything is imminent on the trade front. However, it’s difficult to ignore Fitzgerald’s re-engaged interest in the 30-year-old goaltender with Gibson in town.