Oilers Should Not Trade for This Goalie Who Wants Out
The Edmonton Oilers don't need to upgrade their goaltending this season.
The one thing that the Edmonton Oilers do not need to upgrade this off-season is their goaltending. Teams should always look to improve at every position every year. They have already improved their forward group and look to add more depth pieces.
Frank Seravalli revealed on the Nasty Knuckles podcast that the Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson has said "I am not playing another game for the Anaheim Ducks." This may not be so surprising considering that the Ducks have not been a great team in recent years.
The Oilers need to steer clear of Gibson. Their tandem of Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell did well last year - and they should be even better this year as Campbell bounces back and Skinner maintains his Calder-Finalist performance.
Gibson Hasn't Been Good In A Long Time
Gibson has not been a good goaltender for a long time. His save percentage (SV%) over the past four seasons has been .904, .903, .904 & .899. Gibson's ability to stop the puck at a high level is diminishing every year.
Some argue "it's the bad team around him" that's causing his numbers to be low. If that's the case, the Oilers definitely don't want him. The Oilers have never been a standout defensive team, why acquire a goalie who depends on good defence?
Campbell Is Better
Campbell had a poor year in 2022-23 but hasn't been that bad in recent years. His SV% over the past four years are .904, .921, .914 and .888. The interesting thing to note with Campbell is that his .921 & .914 SV% years were as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. As a team they haven't been great defensively. He should rebound in this upcoming 2023-24 season, and positively regress to his .910 career average SV%.
Related: Oilers 2023 Off-Season Guide
It's tempting to want to acquire any high-profile player who is made available. But not every player is a fit, and Gibson certainly isn't a fit for the Oilers.