There are multiple trades that can happen this summer, and the Detroit Red Wings may look to upgrade their current situation at goaltender. If the season started today, they’d be rolling with Cam Talbot and Petr Mrazek. Not the worst duo out there, but both players are past their respective primes and are long since gone from their days as franchise netminders. So, an upgrade may be in order.
Now, I know what some of you are screaming, SEBASTIAN COSSA! And okay, fair enough. But Cossa’s played exactly one NHL game, so I’m not calling him a proven talent, even if he hasn’t looked bad in Grand Rapids. Well, unless there’s a playoff game going on, but he’ll grow outta that, don’t worry.
While I’m still convinced Cossa, or Michal Postava, is the future in the Red Wings net, it don’t mean the team shouldn’t look to get younger there in the interim. Someone like John Gibson, who’s annually on the trade block, could be a good fix here.
What makes John Gibson a possible fix for the Red Wings net?
This trade would involve Petr Mrazek, no doubt, and a few other assets. But it benefits all parties involved. The Anaheim Ducks, a team that’s clearly not afraid to make trades, benefit with another likely high-potential, mid-tier prospect that would probably be part of the trade.
Plus, Petr Mrazek’s not beating out Lukas Dostal, who looks like the main man in the Ducks net for the next decade. On the other hand, Gibson showed us he can still play after more than a few lean seasons with the Ducks, recording a 0.911 save percentage, plus a 2.77 GAA, and an incredible 0.679 quality starts percentage in 2024-25.
Not bad, yeah? While I realize Gibson’s only a couple years younger than Mrazek, he’s shown that he can put up capable numbers with a bad hockey team. Because let’s be real: The Ducks were better last season, and you can almost go as far to say that they surprised a few of us. But they still have ways to go. Yet Gibson gave them a ray of hope.
A John Gibson-Cam Talbot tandem would work well in 2025-26
Cam Talbot could be heading into what might be his final season in the NHL, while Gibson has two years left on his deal. The Ducks could also retain some of Gibson’s contract in the deal while the Wings flip them a mid-round draft pick in return for the retention.
This deal could lead to Gibson and Talbot splitting time in the net as a 1A and 1B, with Gibson taking the 1A role and Talbot, the 1B. Should the Red Wings take a route like this - whether it’s Gibson or an equivalent, they can limit both players’ respective ice time, keeping them fresh and, hopefully, performing at their peak.
Further, this would give Cossa one more full season in the AHL should the netminding tandem in Hockeytown stay healthy. He can work out a few more caveats of his game in Grand Rapids, get more consistent, and maybe be ‘the guy’ in 2025-26.
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