If John Gibson were defending the net for the Detroit Red Wings as efficiently as his team is building a wall of defense around his performance this season, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

Following Gibson’s latest substandard performance in Thursday’s 5-0 debacle against the New York Islanders, the Winged Wheeled spin doctors were in full damage control mode.

“Another night where I feel like we left Gibby out to dry,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said.

John Gibson so far this season pic.twitter.com/wBdsePgjYT

— Barstool Detroit (@BSMotorCity) November 21, 2025

Yes and no. In fairness, just about every player in a Detroit jersey should’ve been hanging their heads in shame following Thursday’s one-sided setback.

On the other hand, to be brutally honest, it’s the goalie’s job to step up and stop the bleeding when the team is struggling. The netminder’s job description is to stop the puck. It doesn’t say anything about only stopping it when the team makes it easy for the goaltender.

Red Wings Coach Defends His Goalie

Analyzing the goals that beat his goalie on Thursday, Red Wings coach Todd McLellan was also deflecting blame away from Gibson much more effectively than Gibson was deflecting pucks away from his net.

“A two-on-one and a good shooter scores,” McLellan said. “Faceoff goal. Can’t see it. Scores. Second faceoff goal. One timer from the dot as he’s coming across. He’s gotta find the puck. Scores. (Marco) Kasper’s turnover shot through people. Deflects off, scores.

“I could sit here and say, ‘Boy, it would be nice to have one of those,’ but (it’s on) the group. Those are team goals (against), too.”

Does John Gibson have a fundamental glove side problem? Lift your glove up brother!! #LGRW #RedWings pic.twitter.com/Mlbet6p9eu

— Carlo Mario (@drumlion) November 21, 2025

If he’s reading this, Harry Sinden is screaming. DHN colleague Kevin Allen likes to share a story from a conversation he once had with the legendary Boston Bruins GM. Sinden would grow apoplectic whenever someone in the game would suggest that you couldn’t blame the goalie when a goal was scored.

You know what? He’s right. Elite NHL goalies don’t gain that status because they stop the shots they should. It’s because they stop many of the shots they shouldn’t.

The best netminders don’t just make saves. They make timely saves.

So far this season, the Red Wings aren’t getting any of that from Gibson.  He’s 48th in the NHL in save percentage (.870) and 46th in goals-against average (3.46). According to naturalstattrick.com, among 75 goalies who’ve played in the NHL this season, Gibson is 51st in high-danger save percentage (.800) and 69th in expected goals against (-6.46).

Reminiscent Of Rogie’s Arrival

Acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in an offseason trade, the veteran Gibson was supposed to be the solution to Detroit’s mediocre puckstopping. Instead, he’s simply adding to an ongoing problem.

For veteran Red Wings watchers, it looks hauntingly familiar to the arrival of Rogie Vachon from the LA Kings to Detroit in 1978. A Stanley Cup and Vezina Trophy winner in Montreal, and an NHL All-Star with the Kings, Vachon took a pratfall right off the bat in Detroit and never was able to regain his footing.

The future Hall of Famer finished the 1978-79 season 32nd in the NHL in GAA (3.91) and 34th in save percentage (.863).

McLellan believes that after 12 seasons in Anaheim, Gibson is dealing with an adjustment period.

“I think it’s been hard for Gibby because he’s come to a new team later in his career and he’s had to adjust and adapt to coaching staff styles, new goalie coach, teammates, the way we play,” McLellan said. “But I think he’s working hard towards . . . well, he does fit in now.

“He’s very competitive. He fits in, and I think we addressed it earlier. We haven’t given him our best game. We, all of us that put the equipment on in front of them, and we, the suits on the bench.”

Gibson Clearly Fighting The Puck

Gibson also hasn’t given the Red Wings his best game. When a goalie is on their game, the puck seems to find them. They are quiet in their movements, always in position to make even the toughest saves look routine.

A struggling goalie fights the puck. They flail about, swimming in their goal crease. When a goalie’s confidence goes, instinct tells them they need to move faster when in reality, the solution is to relax, track the puck and let it come to you.

Gibson is definitely fighting the puck right now. If he continues down that path and doesn’t fix his game, it’s a fight that he and the Red Wings will keep losing.