Pucks of a Feather
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Anaheim Ducks Fans, Do You Believe Now?

By Jonathan Watson

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 24: Troy Terry #19 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his goal during the third period against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden on January 24, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Ducks won 5-3. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 24: Troy Terry #19 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his goal during the third period against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden on January 24, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Ducks won 5-3. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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Gibson for Vezina

BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 24: John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks tends goal against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden on January 24, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Ducks won 5-3. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 24: John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks tends goal against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden on January 24, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Ducks won 5-3. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

John Gibson. What can I say about the goalie of the Anaheim Ducks. In my honest opinion, Gibson is the best goalie in Ducks history. To some, that comment can be a stretch, but to me, he’s more skilled than J.S. Giguere, Guy Hebert, Freddie Andersen, etc. He continuously bails the team out whenever called upon, something that had been an issue for the last few years. And despite his brilliance, Gibson hasn’t been given his due: the Vezina Trophy.

Whether its Pekka Rinne, Carey Price, Connor Hellebuyck or Andrei Vasilevskiy, the national NHL media has failed to give Gibson respect for putting the Ducks on his back over the last few years. This year alone, he’s carried the load for the Ducks, leading them to second place at the All-Star break (With numerous teams having games in hand admittedly.) However, that still should put Gibson in consideration because quite frankly, where would the Ducks be without him?

Thankfully, this year there have been nights where he can take the night off. That’s where having a competent backup comes in handy. Anthony Stolarz, in his thirteen appearances, has a 7-5-1 record, an average record, but it shows his importance because it allows Gibson to rest his body at times.

Another facet that also allows Gibson to be in the Vezina conversation is his defense. While still at times shows their inconsistency, overall has showed their willingness to play shutdown hockey. They’re thirteenth overall in GA/G, thirteenth in Goals against, tied for first in SV%, and tied for sixth in shutouts. Though they bend, they show they won’t always break.

One of the stellar Ducks D-man is Hampus Lindholm. Eighth in points and assists, Hampus’ is most effective on the defensive end. He’s the leader in +/-, with a +6. While he may not be a household name like Ryan McDonagh, or Victor Hedman, Lindholm has shown to be a reliable defensive captain for the Ducks. It’s safe to say that without his presence on the ice, the Ducks wouldn’t be as strong on defense as they are now.

Now of course, playing defense is a team game, and yes, they’re not the most dominant defense in the NHL. But considering where they’ve been the last few years, to see a marked improvement this year should give Ducks fans life. As the season goes on, so will the improvement on defense.

As for my reasoning as to why Gibson should be considered for the Vezina trophy, it’s plain and simple. Gibson has been the reason why the Ducks are relevant this year. Yeah, you can look at plenty of other goalies and say they may have the better stats. But, when you’re a goalie for a team that is filled with youth, not a ton of experience, and you’re the bedrock to the team’s success, there shouldn’t be any doubt left. Gibson shouldn’t be left out of the conversation one bit

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