The Detroit Red Wings made a significant move to solidify their goaltending depth on Saturday, June 28, 2025, during Day 2 of the NHL Draft. The Red Wings acquired veteran goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for goaltender Petr Mrazek, a 2026 fourth-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick. Notably, no salary was retained in the transaction, as reported by Reddit’s r/hockey community citing trade details.
This trade marks a strategic shift for the Red Wings, who are looking to bring stability to their net. John Gibson, 31, arrives in Detroit with two years remaining on his contract, carrying a $6.4 million annual cap hit. He is expected to form a tandem with Cam Talbot, who is currently in the final year of his own contract. Gibson’s career statistics, all accumulated during his tenure with the Ducks, include a 2.89 goals-against average (GAA) and a .910 save percentage (SV%) across 506 games, according to the Detroit Free Press and Hockey-Reference.com.
In the most recent 2024-25 season, Gibson posted an 11-11-2 record with a 2.77 GAA and a .912 SV% in 29 games played. His season was impacted by an emergency appendectomy that caused him to miss the first 13 games. Despite a challenging period for the Ducks as they underwent a rebuild, Gibson has a history of strong performance, including winning the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2016 (shared with Frederik Andersen) and being named an NHL All-Star three times (2016, 2019, 2022), as detailed by Wikipedia.
For the Anaheim Ducks, trading Gibson signals a continued commitment to their rebuilding phase. With the emergence of goaltender Lukas Dostal, Gibson’s role had shifted, and the Ducks opted to move the veteran netminder to acquire future assets. Gibson was originally drafted by the Ducks in the second round (39th overall) in 2011, making his NHL debut in 2014.
Petr Mrazek, 33, returns to the Western Conference after a brief second stint with the Red Wings. Detroit had re-acquired Mrazek in March 2025 at the trade deadline from the Chicago Blackhawks. Mrazek, who was originally drafted by the Red Wings in 2011, appeared in just five games for Detroit last season before suffering an injury. While he recovered and served as a backup late in the season, he did not start another game. This trade marks his departure from the Red Wings for the second time, having previously been traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2018, as reported by the Detroit Free Press.
The Red Wings are banking on Gibson’s experience and past performance to provide a much-needed boost to their goaltending. While he has faced struggles during Anaheim’s rebuilding years, the change of scenery and a clearer role alongside Talbot could potentially help Gibson regain his elite form. This move underscores Detroit’s commitment to improving their roster and competing in the challenging NHL landscape.
