John Gibson will lead Ducks to the Cup
Yes you read that correctly, the Anaheim Ducks have the team, talent, drive, and determination to be hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup next June. But the man between the pipes that will lead them there is not Frederik Andersen; it’s John Gibson.
Following the end of the 13-14’ season Ducks brass knew they had struck gold in having both Gibson and Andersen NHL ready and it made long-time goaltender Jonas Hiller expendable. Many prognosticators viewed the Ducks’ decision to enter the season with two young (22 and 25 respectively) and inexperienced goaltenders as risky but the Ducks and Ducks fans had faith the kids could carry the load. It was a great battle through camp that ultimately John Gibson won as he was named as the opening night starter when the puck dropped on the 14-15’ season. Despite a less than stellar opening night performance Gibson was giving the reigns out of the gate and had some absolutely stellar performances through-out the season. However Gibson suffered numerous injuries and it allowed Andersen to claim the number one job.
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Andersen’s play also was a reason for that as he played incredible this season and no doubt the Ducks wouldn’t have made it as far as they did without him. He proved a lot of people wrong about how he could handle the work-load and pressure. Andersen is a great goalie and without a doubt a number one in the NHL. However you have to wonder how the season would have played out had Gibson been able to stay healthy.
Gibson appeared in 23 games total and put up good numbers. A record of 13-8-0, GAA 2.60, SV% .914 and a shut-out. In those games he had some absolutely incredible performances. To name a few: a 38 save shutout of the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, a 35 save win against Detroit, a 39 save win against Dallas, and a string of 9 straight starts culminating in a 6-3 record. When he was in he was good and most of these starts were coming off of some tough injuries. He doesn’t rattle, doesn’t over commit and is as technically sound as a goalie comes. No matter the situation or the environment he’s in he’s just so cool in the crease. He doesn’t have the “deer in headlights” look. He stays composed and he concentrates on making the next save. That kind of energy is contagious and not doubt travels to the rest of the team. That kind of confidence is what you want in the crease and what the Ducks want. It makes you wonder what could have been for Gibson and the Ducks for that matter last season.
But like Gibson does, this season is behind him and it’s on to 15-16’. The Ducks are poised once again to be legitimate Cup contenders and Gibson is the man to lead them there. With his limited action from last season added, here are Gibson’s career NHL regular season numbers: GP 26, 16-8-0, GAA 2.45, SV% .919, 2 shut-outs. And he just turned the ripe old age of 22. Yes it’s an incredibly small sample size but Andersen only had 28 games played before last season and the Ducks were okay with him in net. Gibson is a blue-chip prospect, led the US under 18 team to World Junior gold almost single handedly, and when he was thrust into the Ducks semi-finals against the Kings a year ago he almost stole that series for them as well.
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Andersen took major strides this season in my eyes but regular season and playoffs are a different animal. And while he looked far better this season than last I have watched Andersen and the Ducks melt now in 2 playoff series when the going got tough. Andersen was lucky the Ducks got past Dallas in the opening round in 13-14’ as he looked rattled away from home, and there is no denying he didn’t look himself in the latter stages of the West Finals vs. Chicago this season. Gibson was poised and controlled in his limited playoff action and the Ducks implosion in Game 7 vs. LA was not on Gibson. However virtually all the Chicago goals in Games 5-7 had to be stops from Andersen with the exception of Jonathan Toews‘ first goal in Game 5. Call it fair or not Gibson seems to have the better mental make-up and style to win you games when you need games won.
The Ducks will have to make a decision sooner rather than later. When they acquired Anton Khudobin at the draft a month ago rumors started that one of them may be headed out. When asked GM Bob Murray laughed at the notion of trading Gibson and it has seemed since he signed that front office is itching to see Gibson be the full time starter. Both he and Andersen are restricted free agents come end of the upcoming season and you can bet they both want to be starters. This season is a “contract year” for the two however one will not be in Anaheim. You can bet they will both come out with a fire under them as Gibson looks to take his place between the pipes and Andersen tries to keep him out. As many strides as Andersen has made it is John Gibson’s time. When the Ducks drafted him fans envisioned him as the goalie of the next decade in Anaheim, that decade and hopefully then some has arrived and hopefully year one ends with a Stanley Cup title.