In the brief time that Petr Mrazek was back with the Detroit Red Wings, the club concluded that he wasn’t the answer to their goaltending dilemma.
They’re hoping John Gibson, slightly younger and with a better track record, will be a significant upgrade.
“John has been, throughout the course of his career, a proven starter and a good starter in the NHL,” Yzerman said. “As Anaheim’s gone through their rebuilding process, I think probably affected his play a little bit. And as their team gets better and they have a good young goaltender in (Lukas) Dostal, John was looking for more opportunity to play. We’re counting on him to give us quality starts and upgrade our team in net.”
The Red Wings added a little bit to their cap by assuming the final two years of Gibson’s contract at a $6.4 million average annual value in exchange for the final year of Mrazek’s deal at $4.25 million, but they have plenty of cap space.
Gibson, 31, was limited to 29 games due to injuries and illness (missed the first 12 games due to an appendectomy, then was sidelined for seven games with a lower-body injury in March) as well as Dostal’s emergence as a starter. Gibson went 11-11-2 with a 2.77 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.
He’s been a workhorse for many years, spending his entire career in Anaheim and posting career numbers of 204-217-63, 2.89 GAA, .910 save percentage and 24 shutouts on a team that made the playoffs only four times in 12 years.
“John has historically, throughout his career, been a good goaltender,” Yzerman said. “Anaheim went through a rebuilding process and they’re coming out of that. We’re sitting here today banking that, one, John has battled through that, that he’s going to be able to maintain a high level. And we like to think we’re a reasonably solid team that’s moving forward, that be fine in this role.”
Gibson will team up with Cam Talbot, who turns 38 a week from today.
Yzerman said he’s also seeking a third goal and has reached out to Alex Lyon, who started each of the past two seasons as the No. 3 man.
The Red Wings had re-acquired Mrazek, 33, from Chicago at this year’s trade deadline, along with right wing Craig Smith, for Joe Veleno. They were not satisfied with Mrazek, however, after he went 2-2-0 with a 2.49 GAA and .902 save percentage in five appearances.
