Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson is facing a setback at the beginning of the regular season after having to undergo an emergency appendectomy. This unexpected surgical procedure took place on Wednesday evening, leading to Gibson being sidelined for an estimated three to six weeks, as confirmed by the Ducks on Thursday. Gibson, 31 years old, has been a key player for the Ducks for the past decade, boasting a record of 193-206-61 with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in his entire NHL career with Anaheim. Despite his strong track record, Gibson struggled last year with a 13-27-2 record and a career-low .888 save percentage, contributing to the Ducks missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.
This season, Gibson was in a competition with Lukas Dostal for the starting goaltender position in Anaheim after the two split the duties last year. Dostal, 24 years old, showed promise with a 14-23-3 record and a .902 save percentage, outperforming Gibson in some aspects. Dostal, a former third-round pick who made his NHL debut in January 2022, notably excelled during the world championships over the summer, recording two shutouts as Czechia claimed the gold medal.
Despite participating in training camp practices, Gibson has yet to play in any preseason games for the Ducks. Speculation about Gibson being traded has circulated in recent years; however, his performance decline over the past seasons has subdued these rumors. Gibson remains under contract with Anaheim for the next three seasons with an annual $6.4 million cap hit. Notably, he previously shared the Jennings Trophy with Frederik Andersen in 2016.
The Ducks are set to kick off their season on October 12th against San Jose, with their first home game scheduled for October 16th against Utah. The absence of Gibson at the start of the regular season may give Dostal an opportunity to solidify his position as the Ducks’ top goaltender. This unexpected turn of events adds an element of uncertainty to the Ducks’ goalie situation as they prepare to start the new NHL season.