The Anaheim Ducks suffered a potentially major blow on Saturday night, as starting goaltender John Gibson was forced to exit their game against the Nashville Predators after the first period due to an upper-body injury. Backup netminder Lukas Dostal took over between the pipes to start the second frame.
Gibson, who has battled injuries throughout his career, made nine saves on 10 shots faced in the opening 20 minutes before departing. The 29-year-old had been enjoying a solid bounce-back season for Anaheim, posting an 8-8-2 record with a 2.76 goals-against average and .914 save percentage coming into the contest.
Injury Bug Bites Gibson Again
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Gibson has been sidelined this year. The Pittsburgh native missed the Ducks’ first 12 games of the campaign after undergoing an emergency appendectomy in October. He also briefly exited a December 23rd matchup against Vegas after being hit in the right eye with a stick blade.
When healthy, the two-time All-Star remains one of the NHL’s premier puck-stoppers. He currently sits just five wins shy of matching Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s franchise record of 206 career victories. But staying on the ice has proven increasingly difficult in recent seasons.
Backup Dostal Thrust Into Spotlight
With Gibson sidelined indefinitely, the Ducks will now turn to 22-year-old Lukas Dostal to shoulder the load in goal. The promising Czech prospect has appeared in 13 games as a rookie this season, registering a 3-7-2 mark with a 3.55 GAA and .901 save percentage.
“Obviously you never want to see a teammate get hurt, especially your partner. But I have to be ready whenever my name is called,” Dostal said after the game. “I’ll do everything I can to give our team a chance to win.”
Selected in the 3rd round (85th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Dostal is widely viewed as Anaheim’s goalie of the future. With Gibson’s status unclear, he may get an extended audition for the starting role much sooner than anticipated.
Déjà Vu for Ducks Faithful
Gibson’s latest injury undoubtedly triggers painful flashbacks for Ducks fans, who watched the former Vezina Trophy finalist struggle mightily with durability over the past two seasons:
- 2021-22: Limited to 56 starts, posted worst GAA (3.19) and save % (.904) of career
- 2020-21: Appeared in just 35 of Anaheim’s 56 games in pandemic-shortened campaign
When Gibson is on his game, he remains one of the few difference-makers for a rebuilding Ducks squad that currently sits 28th in the overall league standings. Losing him for any significant chunk of time would be a devastating development both on and off the ice.
Trade Rumors Swirling
Further complicating matters is Gibson’s status as one of the few veteran goaltenders potentially available on the trade market ahead of the March 3rd deadline. If healthy, his attractive contract ($6.4M AAV through 2026-27) would make him a coveted target for contenders seeking a long-term solution in net.
With the Ducks almost certainly headed for another lottery pick this summer, moving Gibson for future assets could accelerate their ongoing rebuild. But that plan gets thrown into disarray if interested suitors have lingering concerns about his ability to stay in the crease.
Long Road Ahead
All eyes in Anaheim will be on the medical report in the coming days, as Gibson’s outlook will have a profound impact on the organization’s short and long-term plans. In the meantime, Dostal has a golden opportunity to prove he’s ready for primetime and give Ducks fans a reason for optimism, even as the present looks bleak.
With franchise icons Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry long gone, Gibson remains the last link to the Ducks’ glory years in the mid-2010s. Losing him would be a symbolic gut punch for a proud franchise that appears destined for a painful reset.
For now, all the Ducks can do is hope for a speedy recovery for their stalwart netminder – and that Dostal is ready to spread his wings and soar in Gibson’s stead. The future is unwritten, but the road ahead looks daunting in Anaheim.
