As the NHL hits pause for the Olympic break, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves in a strong position - and a big reason why is the resurgence of veteran goaltender John Gibson. The Wings head into the hiatus with a 33-19-6 record, good for 72 points through 58 games, and tied for second in the Atlantic Division.
That’s a solid resume for a team that’s been searching for stability in net for years. Now, with Gibson locking things down between the pipes, Detroit might have finally found their answer.
Let’s talk about Gibson’s January - because it was nothing short of stellar. In 11 starts, he went 8-3 with a 2.13 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.
That’s the kind of run that doesn’t just help your team rack up wins - it gets you noticed across the league. And noticed he was.
Gibson has officially entered the Vezina Trophy conversation, thanks to his red-hot stretch. In ESPN’s latest NHL Awards Watch, which polls members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, Gibson landed as a finalist for the league’s top goaltending honor.
He’s joined by Ilya Sorokin of the Islanders, while Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Lightning currently leads the pack. But here’s the kicker: Gibson was the only other goalie besides Vasilevskiy to receive first-place votes from the panel.
Now, let’s zoom out a bit. On the season, Gibson sits at 22-11-2 with a .905 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA.
Those numbers might not scream “Vezina lock,” especially when you dig into the analytics - he ranks 17th in goals saved above expected with 8.2. But since the calendar flipped to 2026, he’s been lights out: 9-3-1 with a .925 save percentage.
That’s the kind of momentum that can flip a narrative and put a goalie right in the thick of the awards race.
And let’s be real - the Vezina race is still wide open. Earlier in the season, names like Scott Wedgewood (Avalanche) and Logan Thompson (Capitals) were leading the charge. So if Gibson keeps this pace up while others cool off, don’t be surprised if he climbs even higher in the conversation.
It’s been a long road to this point. The Red Wings made a bold move acquiring Gibson from Anaheim, where he’d been on the trade block for what felt like forever.
Early on, it looked like the gamble might not pay off - Gibson struggled to find his rhythm in Detroit. But since the new year, he’s found his groove, built trust with his defense, and started to look like the goalie who once carried heavy workloads in Anaheim with poise.
There’s still a lot of hockey left. Two full months remain once the league returns from the Olympic break.
That’s plenty of time for Gibson to keep this heater going - and if he does, he won’t just be a finalist. He could be hoisting the Vezina when it’s all said and done.
And let’s not forget: the Vezina isn’t voted on by the media - it’s the NHL’s general managers who make that call. If Gibson keeps stacking wins and continues to be the backbone of Detroit’s playoff push, he’s going to make a strong impression where it matters most.