The Detroit Red Wings are aiming to end their playoff drought, and a potential trade involving a star goalie might be a step in that direction.
A trade suggestion from PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool has the Red Wings acquiring John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks.
Trade Details:
Red Wings would receive:
– John Gibson
Ducks would receive:
– Ben Chiarot
– Andrew Copp
– Marco Kasper
– 2026 first-round pick
– 2026 second-round pick
This trade would bring the Red Wings a proven starting goalie in Gibson, but it would come at the cost of several assets, including a first-round and a second-round pick.
Gibson is currently in the sixth year of his eight-year, $51.2 million contract. Adding Gibson would significantly strengthen the Red Wings’ goaltending situation, allowing them to potentially trade Ville Husso or Cam Talbot for other assets. While Gibson has had some inconsistent performances, this may be due to his time with the Ducks. He has been named an NHL All-Star three times.
Acquiring Gibson would also give top goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa more time to develop in the AHL before eventually stepping into the starting role in Detroit.
To complete the deal, the Red Wings would part with two draft picks and three players. Ben Chiarot is currently in the third year of his four-year, $19 million contract and plays on Detroit’s second defensive pairing. Last season, he posted 5 goals and 15 assists in 17 games.
Andrew Copp has not met expectations since joining the Red Wings on a five-year, $28.13 million deal in 2022. As a third-line forward, trading Copp would help free up cap space for Detroit. Last season, he scored 13 goals and 20 assists in 79 games.
The final piece in the trade is forward prospect Marco Kasper, who was drafted eighth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. Last season, Kasper had 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 71 AHL games.
Gibson’s Trade Value
Gibson has been mentioned in trade discussions, with Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek acknowledging that there is a market for the goalie. Although trade talks have occurred, nothing has been finalized, but the Ducks remain open to moving Gibson if the right offer comes along.
Red Wings’ Goalie Situation
Detroit currently has three goalies on their roster: Ville Husso, Cam Talbot, and Alex Lyon. While it’s unusual for NHL teams to carry three goalies, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has said the team is considering its options. Husso is in the final year of his three-year, $14.75 million contract, Talbot recently signed a two-year, $5 million deal, and Lyon is in the last year of his two-year, $1.8 million contract.
