John Gibson’s Resurgence Has the Red Wings Believing Again
For years, John Gibson’s name floated through the NHL rumor mill like a puck in a neutral zone scrum - always moving, never landing. Drafted 39th overall by Anaheim back in 2011, Gibson quickly made a name for himself as one of the league’s premier young goaltenders.
He was the kind of netminder coaches leaned on heavily, logging big minutes and delivering big results. But as the Ducks began their rebuild and the roster around him thinned out, Gibson’s numbers started to slide.
From 2019-20 onward, his save percentage never climbed above .905 - a far cry from his earlier dominance.
Fast forward to the 2025 NHL Draft weekend, and the long-anticipated move finally happened. Anaheim, turning the page on a franchise cornerstone, dealt Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings.
For Gibson, it was a fresh start. For the Red Wings, it was a bet on a veteran goalie who once stood among the league’s elite.
At first, it looked like that bet might not pay off. Gibson’s start to the season was rough - a 5-7-1 record that didn’t inspire much confidence.
But then came December, and with it, a version of Gibson we hadn’t seen in years. Two shutouts in a single week sparked something.
Since December 1, Gibson has gone 16-2-0 over an 18-game stretch, including a current seven-game win streak. That’s not just good - that’s league-best form.
And he’s not padding stats against bottom-feeders, either. Take Wednesday night in Toronto.
The Maple Leafs came out flying, peppering Gibson early and often. But he stood tall, turning away quality looks and keeping Detroit in the game when it could’ve easily slipped away.
That’s what elite goaltending looks like - the kind that can swing a game, a week, even a season.
Right now, the Red Wings are in the thick of the Eastern Conference race - a scenario that would’ve sounded far-fetched just two months ago. But Gibson’s been the backbone of that push.
Since the start of December, his 13.47 goals saved above expected at 5-on-5 is second only to Ilya Sorokin of the Islanders. His 10.75 goals saved above average?
That leads the pack. The numbers say it all: Gibson is playing at a Vezina Trophy level.
“If you look at the saves he’s making - what a goalie that is,” said Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson. “He’s been unreal. I have all the confidence in him that he’s going to perform when we need him.”
So what’s changed?
Confidence is part of it. But there are also technical tweaks that have made a real difference.
Gibson’s glove positioning has improved - he’s holding it higher, taking away the top corners that elite shooters love to target. He’s using a stiffer glove, which can be tricky to control, but his positioning is so sound that rebounds aren’t an issue.
He’s also playing a bit deeper in his crease, cutting down angles and avoiding the kind of scrambles that lead to chaos in front. At 6-foot-3, he doesn’t need to challenge far out to cover the net - and now he’s playing like he knows it.
The Red Wings entered the season with cautious optimism - a young core, a few key veterans, and dreams of finally snapping their playoff drought. Gibson’s arrival wasn’t just about plugging a hole in net; it was about stabilizing the team’s back end, giving them a chance to compete every night. And right now, that’s exactly what they’re doing.
Detroit’s defense deserves credit too. Having someone like Moritz Seider patrolling the blue line certainly helps.
But Gibson’s calm, composed presence has elevated the entire group. He’s not chasing pucks, not giving up soft rebounds, not scrambling out of position.
He’s in control - and when your goalie plays with that kind of poise, it has a ripple effect on the rest of the team.
“He’s dominant,” one scout said after Wednesday’s win. “He’s in full control.”
And that’s really the story here. When Gibson is on, Detroit has a chance to win - no matter the opponent, no matter the situation.
It’s not some magic formula. It’s just elite goaltending, executed night after night.
Gibson hasn’t seen playoff ice since 2018. But we’ve seen what he can do when the lights are brightest.
Back in 2017, he nearly backstopped Anaheim to a Stanley Cup Final. He’s shined on the international stage, too, from his junior days to the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
He’s been here before - and now, he’s hungry to get back.
“That’s why I came here,” Gibson said. “I want to help them get in the playoffs.
If you ask anyone around, they’d be more than happy to be in this spot. So I’m not going to take that for granted.”
There’s still a long road ahead - about 30 games left in the regular season - but Gibson’s resurgence has changed the conversation in Detroit. This isn’t just a hot streak.
This feels like a return to form. And if he keeps this up, the Red Wings won’t just be chasing a playoff spot - they’ll be a team no one wants to face when they get there.