When the majority of the Detroit Red Wings fanbase complained about another quiet offseason, several were quick to point out that the Wings did make a blockbuster deal. No, it was not the top-line winger or defenseman fans prayed for, but it was a former All-Star that filled another hole on the Wings.
John Gibson was brought in to solidify the Detroit goaltending situation, something that has been a struggle for nearly a decade. Last season, Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon performed admirably, but both lacked the consistency needed to make the Wings a playoff team.
Whether Gibson would be a stopgap for Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine, or a more long-term solution, his pedigree suggested he would at least perform well in 2025-26.
Unfortunately, just 12 starts into his Detroit tenure, Hockeytown fans have already seen enough of Gibson.
Fans are done with the John Gibson experiment and it is easy to see why
It is hard to see how Gibson could have gotten off to any worse of a start to this season. He has a .870 save percentage and a 3.46 GAA. Amongst National Hockey League (NHL) goalies with at least 10 starts, only the Montreal Canadiens’ Sam Montembeault has a worst save percentage (.852).
Gibson has also failed to record a shutout and has given up at least two goals in every one of his starts except two. This includes seven starts where he has surrendered four or more scores.
The main concern when the Wings traded for Gibson in June was if he was past his prime. The 32-year-old was stellar in a backup role for Anaheim last season (.911 save percentage in 28 games), but struggled as a starter in the years prior. He had a .888 save percentage in 2023-24 and a .899 in 2022-23.
This worry has so far proven warranted. Gibson looks outmatched every game, failing to track the puck, make critical saves, or position himself well.
Fair or not, Gibson’s failures have also fueled Detroit fans’ frustrations with the front office. General manager Steve Yzerman has been under fire for his deals in recent years, including Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, Jake Walman, and Justin Holl. The Gibson trade looks like it may soon be added to that list.
Where can the Red Wings go from here?
If the Red Wings finally want to break their playoff drought, they are going to need the stable goaltending they thought Gibson would provide.
The easy solution is that Gibson somehow figures it out. Him giving up five goals to the New York Islanders on Thursday night may not inspire hope, but the season is only a quarter of the way through. It is not impossible for Gibson to reclaim some of his All-Star form and have a quality year.
However, assuming Gibson is truly beyond repair, Cam Talbot is the immediate solution. His counting stats (.897 save percentage and 2.64 GAA) prior to Saturday's win over the Columbus Blue Jackets are not spectacular, but Talbot has made some incredible saves this year and his 9-2 record proves how often he keeps Detroit in games.
While most want Talbot to be the starter over Gibson, there is reason for caution.
Talbot also got off to a strong start last season, before fading down the stretch. At this stage of his career, the 38-year-old Talbot is best suited in a tandem or as a backup. He has proven too many times that he cannot handle a full starter’s workload.
The other possible solutions are much more drastic. The Wings could make another trade for a veteran goalie, perhaps including Gibson in the deal, and then rolling with a new tandem with Talbot.
The answer most fans are clamoring for is Sebastian Cossa, the long-awaited prospect. The 2021 first round pick has a .940 save percentage and a 1.67 GAA over his first six starts in Grand Rapids this year.
Cossa will no doubt endure growing pains once he is called up to Detroit, but it is hard to believe those growing pains will be any worse than Gibson’s current performance. Having Talbot will also give Cossa a veteran presence to lean on.
The Red Wings will likely give Gibson a little more time to figure it out. Do not be surprised, though, if Detroit’s goalie tandem becomes Cossa and Talbot as soon as the New Year, especially if the Wings start losing more games.