$51,200,000 Ducks goaltender "unquestionably an upgrade" for Edmonton Oilers over Stuart Skinner's current duo, opines Chris Johnston

NHL Insiders Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun recently discussed the Edmonton Oilers' goaltending situation in The Athletic's trade matchmaker column.

LeBrun pointed out that the Ducks would likely need to retain a portion of John Gibson's salary for any trade to materialize. He also mentioned that the Carolina Hurricanes are one of the teams in the mix, having previously explored trade options with the Ducks last summer.

LeBrun wrote:

"Gibson has two and a half years left on his contract at a significant cap number. That’s the main reason he hasn’t been moved already. There is no guarantee Gibson gets moved. But if he does, the leading contenders in my mind would be the Hurricanes."

On the other hand, Johnston opined that John Gibson would be "unquestionably" an upgrade for the Edmonton Oilers as a backup to Stuart Skinner.

For the Oilers, Gibson could be a strategic move as they aim for a deep playoff run this season. As per Johnston, goaltending may not be an immediate priority, enhancing their options could be crucial for the Oilers' current duo of Skinner and Connor Pickard.

Johnston said:

"They (Oilers) are a bottom-10 team in terms of save percentage and aren’t loaded with options beyond Skinner in the event they ever have to play an extended run without him."

"Edmonton is all-in on chasing the Stanley Cup this season and the years beyond it when Gibson is under contract. The veteran is unquestionably an upgrade on what the Oilers currently have as a No. 2 to support Skinner," he added."

Johnston also mentioned that Gibson could be a sensible addition to the Oilers, especially if he's acquired with a cap hit of $3.2 million. This would allow them to improve their goaltending situation without straining their salary cap too much.

NHL: Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks - Source: Imagn

John Gibson has two and a half years remaining on his eight-year, $51,200,000 contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

This season, the 31-year-old netminder has posted a 5-5-1 record with a 2.93 GAA and .909 SV% for the Anaheim Ducks.

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What's next for Stuart Skinner and Edmonton Oilers?

NHL: St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers - Source: Imagn

Skinner has started in 23 games this season for the Oilers, posting a 13-8-2 record with a 2.85 GAA and a .895 save percentage.

Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers are on an impressive three-game winning streak. With a 21-11-2 record and 44 points, the club currently sits second in the Pacific Division.

The Oilers return to the ice after the holiday period when facing the LA Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday. The puck drops at 4 p.m. ET.