The Edmonton Oilers might need to give up more than expected if they want to land veteran goalie John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks.
NHL insider David Pagnotta dropped some pretty big news on the “Hello Hockey” show about what it would take to get Gibson in an Oilers jersey.
The price tag? Stuart Skinner would likely have to pack his bags for Anaheim. And that’s just the start.
“I would imagine Skinner’s gonna be going back,” Pagnotta said. “If I’m Edmonton, probably throwing Skinner back, cause you gotta try to make money work. I’m still asking Anaheim to retain a little bit, cause they will. A top level prospect too.”
There’s another wrinkle to this potential deal. Elliotte Friedman reports that Gibson would only agree to come to Edmonton if he’s guaranteed the starting job.
That’s where things get complicated.
Skinner has been the Oilers’ go-to guy in net, but he’s had a tough time against the league’s best teams. Still, trading him away would be a huge gamble.
Gibson’s got experience on his side – he’s played 500 NHL games at age 31. But his performance over the last five years hasn’t exactly been stellar, even though he’s bouncing back this season with a solid .915 save percentage.
The deal could get even pricier if the Oilers have to throw in Matthew Savoie, one of their top prospects. Savoie could be a future star on an affordable contract – something every team needs.
If the Ducks would take a different prospect instead of Savoie, maybe there’s still room to talk. If not, the Oilers might want to look elsewhere – like Karel Vejmelka from Utah.
Here’s the thing: The Oilers need to do something about their goaltending. It’s their biggest weakness right now.
And with Connor McDavid in his 10th season with the team, the pressure’s on to find a reliable starter who can help bring the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton.
