Sizzling rumours: Big name goalie linked to Edmonton Oilers, along with other NHL vets

Big name goalie John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks was linked to the Edmonton Oilers today, and while it likely doesn’t mean the obvious – that Gibson is actually in play for the Oilers – it is meaningful, an indicator Edmonton might just be targeting another goalie at the trade deadline.

The rumour comes by way of Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet on his must-listen podcast 32 Thoughts. 

Friedman first said the Oilers are one of the team looking at Chicago forward Ryan Donato, who has a $2 million contract this year and just scored his 19th goal of the year.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of interest in Donato. And, you know, the Blackhawks will just have to figure out what they want to do here.”

Friedman then moved on to Gibson. “One of the things I’d heard during the season was that Gibson’s preferences were Edmonton and Carolina. I mean, Carolina has, as we’ve talked about, that dance with Gibson has been on and off. They’re like two kids at the prom eyeing each other from the opposite side of the room, and they don’t ever get together to dance three times in a row. They just haven’t been able to make the deal.”

Friedman said he had hearsay evidence on Gibson. “One thing I kind of heard… He wants to be the guy. And, you know, so I don’t know if a Gibson-(Stuart) Skinner duo is going to work for him.”

Here’s what Mike Kelly, analyst for the NHL network, had to say about the Gibson situation in low-scoring Anaheim, where he shares the net with Lukas Dostal: “Gibson and Dostal are both top-10 in goals saved above expected / 60 – only teammates both in top-10. Gibson is 9th, Dostal is 17th in save % despite the team ranking last in expected goals against. Ducks goalie have 8 ‘steals’ (goals saved above expected is greater than score differential) and only 1 ‘blown start’ (goals saved below expected is greater than score differential). That plus +7 is best in the NHL.”

My take

1. First off, Donato is an interesting player, a centre with some skill who also hits a bit. He’s 28, kind of a younger version of Adam Henrique. The great thing about centres like Donato and Henrique is they can shift to wing and more than hold their own on defence, as centre is the more complex and trying defensive position. 
2. I can’t speak to Donato’s value as I haven’t done the hard work of watching him closely for 20 or 30 games this year and taking careful notes. That’s the job for an Oilers scout, not a hockey blogger. But his counting numbers are solid.
3. As for Gibson, it doesn’t sound like Edmonton and Gibson are the perfect fit. Friedman’s analysis in that regard comes across as convincing. Gibson is having a bounceback year with a .915 save percentage in 23 games, and he’s been the main starter in Anaheim for years but he’s got another two years left on his deal at $6.4 million per year. Even if Anaheim was to eat half of that it would represent a hefty cap hit for the Oilers this year and in the two seasons to come.
4. What can we really take from this Gibson rumour? What’s interesting to me is that if the hearsay info is accurate, Edmonton has had its mind this year on acquiring another goalie, one who will likely challenge Stuart Skinner for the starting job, or at least be there if Skinner falls down this year in the playoffs. This is a bit of a surprise to me, given the Oilers have been winning this year with Skinner and backup Calvin Pickard, the two get along famously, and the two took the Oilers to within one game of winning the Stanley Cup last year. 
5. That said both Skinner and Pickard have been just average NHL goalies this season, both with many good and many weak moments. With McDavid and Draisaitl in their prime, the Oilers may well decide that goalie is their biggest need at the trade deadline. After all, John Klingberg has arrived on defence and Evander Kane may well be back for the playoffs. Perhaps what makes sense for the Oilers is bringing in a goalie and another forward, such as Donato. 
6. Another name of interest is Jake Evans, a gritty fourth line centre from Montreal, who is on the block.

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