As if Hockeytown needs another setback, the Red Wings watched John Gibson exit Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a lower-body injury.
Gibson did not come out for the second period, and the team later said he would not return. Before leaving, he allowed two goals on 13 shots over the opening 20 minutes, leaving Detroit down 2-0 at the first intermission.
Daniil Tarasov took over in net, coming in less than 24 hours after he picked up a win against his former team, the Florida Panthers.
The injury is the latest interruption in Gibson’s NHL career, and it’s not even the first time this season he has been forced out of a game early. On Oct. 22 against the Vancouver Canucks, he suffered an upper-body injury before returning to the crease two nights later.
For now, the full extent of this latest issue remains unclear. Detroit, though, doesn’t have much breathing room. The Red Wings are back home Thursday night to face the Vegas Golden Knights, and if Gibson’s injury turns out to be more than a minor problem, Michal Postava could be the next man up from Grand Rapids.
Postava has already made an impression. He won his first NHL start last Monday and was just named the AHL’s goaltender of the month.
Gibson has been Detroit’s No. 1 netminder since arriving to the Original Six franchise in June 2025, but his start to this season hasn’t matched what he did a year ago. Through his first 10 starts, the 33-year-old is 4-5-1 with a 3.37 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage.
In Other News...
Division Rival Just Took Detroits Side In The Dylan Larkin Drama
Dylan Larkins trade request has already pushed the Red Wings into an uncomfortable stretch, and the fallout has gone well beyond the ice. After he refused to play and was suspended without pay, Detroit answered with a win and a clear message from inside the room: the group is trying to move forward without letting the situation linger over every shift and every meeting.
What makes the story even more interesting is that a division rival has now weighed in from a different angle. Tampa Bay forward Brandon Hagel pointed to a similar trade-request situation involving teammate Nikita Kucherov, drawing a distinction that reflects how unusual Larkins case has become around the league. For Detroit, it is one more reminder that this drama is being watched closely, and not just by the people wearing red and white. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin Trade Talks Just Hit A Massive Red Wings Roadblock
The Dylan Larkin chatter took a sharp turn after NHL insider Chris Johnston reported that Buffalo put a significant trade offer on the table, only for Detroit to hit a wall because Larkin would not waive his no-trade clause for the Sabres. It is the kind of detail that instantly changes the conversation around a player who remains central to the Red Wings, especially when a deal of that magnitude is involved.
Larkins contract protection gives him control over where he can and cannot be moved, and Buffalo is not on the list of teams he can currently approve. Montreal has also been linked to the situation, but the bigger question now is whether his approved list changes soon, which would reopen a door that is shut for the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Are Chasing A Star As The NHL Trade Market Shifts
The NHL trade market is starting to stir, and for Detroit, the focus remains squarely on Dylan Larkin. Buffalo has shown interest in the Red Wings captain, but Larkin is not currently willing to consider the Sabres as a destination, keeping one of the more intriguing names on the board tied to Detroit for now.
Around the league, another star has added fuel to the conversation. Nikita Kucherov has publicly addressed his trade request from Tampa Bay, pointing to frustration over contract talks and his relationship with Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois, and the ripple effect has already drawn attention from teams such as Toronto and Montreal. For the Red Wings, it is a reminder of how quickly the market can shift, even if the next move involving Larkin still feels far from settled. [Read more 🡒]