November 29, 2024 | 1:45pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
IS GIBSON A PRIME FIT FOR THE AVALANCHE?
Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
John Gibson, goaltender
The Colorado Avalanche sit in the first wildcard spot in the Western Conference, and while their overall play has improved lately, concerns about their goaltending remain.
The Avs are 30th in the NHL in goals-against per game (3.65) and neither of their two netminders are inside the top-45 in the NHL, among goalies, in save percentage.
Colorado’s message, both publicly and internally, has been that they remain confident in their goaltenders and that Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen can hold the fort down.
However, many around the NHL wonder if Avs GM Chris MacFarland will explore the market for a new No.1 goalie this season in order to push them into Stanley Cup contention.
During Wednesday’s edition of “The Latest” on TFP, host Kate Pettersen asked if Colorado could dip its toe in the goalie pool and upgrade their position in net.
“That’s a great question, Kate. As you said, the message they’re relaying is they’re fine, that they believe in their guys. They’re comfortable with their goaltenders, but the numbers just seem to suggest otherwise,” David Pagnotta responded.
“And for a team that has aspirations of getting back to a championship, you’ve got to imagine and the speculation around the league is that they will at some point address themselves between the pipes.”
Pagnotta noted that names like Mackenzie Blackwood of the San Jose Sharks and Dan Vladar of the Calgary Flames have surfaced as options, but the Avs may be more inclined to go big-game hunting if they go down this path and could pursue John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks.
“(Gibson’s) ready to move on,” Pagnotta said. “He’s got to prove himself that he’s back from injury, he’s healthy, and he can play consistent minutes. Once he does that, I’ve got to imagine that that’s going to be a target and Anaheim is in a position now where they’re willing to retain on that contract. He’s got a couple years left, $6.4 million cap hit. It just makes too much sense, doesn’t it?”
Gibson, 31, also owns a 10-team no-trade list as part of his contract, but the belief is he wants to chase a championship and the Avalanche may be his best option, right now.
Meanwhile, Dennis Bernstein suggested the Avalanche may wait until the halfway point in the season before seriously considering a change in net.
“If these guys do round into shape over the next 10-20 games, you say, ‘okay, we can we can live with these guys because we’ve done it before’ without a Connor Helleybuck net or that a (Andrei) Vasilevskiy in net, they did win a title.”
Bernstein did caution, however, that Colorado shouldn’t wait too long before making a move, citing the New Jersey Devils, who took too long to address their goaltending woes and missed the playoffs, in part, because of it.
“I know the Devils last year had a lot of injuries, but don’t do what happened to (GM Tom) Fitzgerald last year. Don’t wait and wait and wait and wait until it’s too late and you can’t trade for a goaltender. Don’t wait, like strike while the iron’s hot,” Bernstein advised.
“If you’re going to make the trade, Gibson would be the most logical one at this point.”