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NHL Hot Seat: Detroit Red Wings Goalie John Gibson Needs Better Support

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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NHL Hot Seat: Detroit Red Wings Goalie John Gibson Needs Better Support

Dylan Larkin didn’t blame goalie John Gibson. The Detroit Red Wings captain absorbed some of the liabilities of Thursday night’s 5-0 loss to the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena. 

“We were slow, we didn’t have it,” Larkin said, as reported by Freep.com.

Well, neither did Gibson, who yielded four goals on the first 12 shots he faced.

Detroit Red Wings Need John Gibson To Step Up 

Todd McLellan also failed to finger the team’s early goaltending struggles. The Red Wings coach questioned the effort in front of the net. 

“That was disappointing,” McLellan said. “We need everybody to make up for it.  

“You know, tonight is a night where I’m gonna envelope everybody into it. I know the numbers don’t look good, obviously, but it’s a two half-@$$ breakaway right off the bat, or a two-on-one, and a good shooter scores.” 

True, but Steve Yzerman engineered a trade last July, acquiring Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks to deny those types of scoring attempts. The Red Wings jettisoned goalie Petr Mrazek, a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, and a ‘27 second-rounder for the $6.4 million goalie. The Red Wings believed Gibson’s veteran presence would help lift the franchise to its first postseason appearance since 2016. 

In 12 games, however, Gibson was 4-6-1 with a 3.47 goals-against average and a .870 save percentage. Backup goalie Cam Talbot lost his starting role when Gibson was acquired, but in 11 outings, he is 8-2-0 with a 2.64 GAA.  

Despite Thursday’s letdown loss, the Red Wings (12-8-1) remained in first place in the Atlantic Division, but were just five points from the cellar. 

The Red Wings have two top prospects within their system. Grand Rapids Griffins’ Sebastian Cossa leads the AHL with 1.67 GAA, winning five of his first six decisions. Michigan State junior Trey Augustine earned wins in eight of his opening nine starts. 

The Red Wings have a history of over-ripping their young players with unusually long minor-league journeys. Unless Gibson or Talbot suffers a major injury, Yzerman likely would like to see Cossa remain in the minor leagues. 

The Red Wings, who practiced Friday, likely will turn to Talbot against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. 

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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