In a significant move on June 28, 2025, the Anaheim Ducks traded goaltender John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings, ending his 12-year tenure with the team. The Red Wings are looking to bolster their goaltending and aim to end their decade-long playoff drought.
The Ducks will receive veteran goaltender Petr Mrazek, a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. There will be no salary retained in the deal.
Gibson, 31, has played his entire NHL career with the Ducks since being drafted in the second round (39th overall) in 2011. He is the Ducks' all-time leader in saves and is second in wins and third in shutouts. He has a career record of 204-217-63 with 24 shutouts. In 29 games this past season, Gibson went 11-11-2 with a .912 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average.
Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek mentioned that Gibson has been looking for a change for the past couple of years and that the timing was right. Verbeek also noted that discussions with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman had occurred around the trade deadline, but a lower-body injury Gibson sustained at the time prevented a deal. The discussions resumed about three weeks ago, ultimately leading to the trade.
Mrazek, 33, has played for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Red Wings this season. In 38 starts, he was 12-21-2 with a 3.35 GAA and an .891 save percentage. Throughout his career, Mrazek has a 180-176-40 record with a 2.85 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage while playing for the Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, and Red Wings.
Gibson is currently in the seventh season of an eight-year, $51.2 million deal with an annual cap hit of $6.4 million. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026-27 campaign. Mrazek is entering the final season of a two-year, $8.5 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $4.25 million and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
With Gibson's departure, 24-year-old Lukas Dostal is expected to take over as the full-time starter for the Ducks. The Red Wings have been searching for their future netminder for years and with their prospect Sebastian Cossa developing, the Red Wings look to have a solid tandem in the future.
