Apr 4, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; View of a Detroit Red Wings logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at Bell Centre.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The Detroit Red Wings and general manager Steve Yzerman have one more problem to solve before their first game of December.

Here, we present one issue to solve for the Red Wings: goaltending.

It’s been a major issue this year, as Cam Talbot has been the standout of the tandem.

Talbot has proven himself to be reliable despite the lackluster save percentage of .887. He has a record of 9-4-1 and a 2.88 GAA (goals against average).

It’s John Gibson who has been the sore thumb here lately. Gibson has given up an average of 3.65 goals and has an .865 save percentage with a record of 4-7-1.

Once sold to us as someone who could get the team deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs, we’re left pondering if that is even true anymore.

But NHL.com’s Dan Rosen shared his thoughts in a response to a fan in a recent mailbag, saying, “We can’t forget that the Red Wings are Gibson’s first new team in his NHL career and for a goalie, it can take some time to get adjusted to playing in a different system with all new defensemen. That’s why Gibson should not be at the end of his runway.”

Should the Detroit Red Wings trade goaltender John Gibson?

John Gibson has been playing for the Red Wings organization for two months now. We haven’t seen the flashes of brilliance that were omnipresent in a bottom-dwelling organization like the Anaheim Ducks.

He’s had two months’ time to learn Todd McLellan’s system and get a feel for his new teammates in addition to being paid a nice, hefty salary.

The contract, which he signed with the Anaheim Ducks in 2018, pays him an average value of $6.4 million and expires at the end of the 2026-27 season.

The team needs to consider its future and whether or not Gibson will fit into it long-term, considering the depth of goaltender talent available in the AHL and beyond.

Gibson has given up eight or more goals in his last 13 starts, and you have to weigh that against the plans the team had as a group at the start of the year.

Is it time to prioritize veterans or trade John Gibson to where he can be utilized properly?

Previously on Detroit Hockey Insider

POLL

05 MINUTES AGO   |   3 ANSWERS

Red Wings have one more problem to solve before their first December game

Should the Detroit Red Wings trade goaltender John Gibson?