Another season, another painful handshake line for the Edmonton Oilers. Falling to the Florida Panthers in six games in the Stanley Cup Final was a gut-punch, a stark reminder that being close isn’t enough. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the prime of their careers, the window to win is right now, and the question on everyone’s mind is no longer if they need an upgrade in goal, but who it will be.
As the dust settles, the smoke is rising around a familiar name: John Gibson.
Friedman Fans the Flames: A Gibson-for-Kane Deal Has Legs
According to top NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, speaking on Sportsnet’s The Fan 590, the team that should be at the front of the line for the Anaheim Ducks netminder is the Edmonton Oilers. This isn’t just offseason chatter; it’s a rumor with a history. We know the Oilers kicked tires on Gibson at the trade deadline, and reports suggested Gibson was ready to waive his no-trade clause to head to Oil Country. At the time, GM Stan Bowman stood pat, placing his faith in Stuart Skinner. After a playoff run that saw Skinner post an .889 save percentage, that faith is being seriously questioned.
From my perspective, the time for loyalty over logic is over. Skinner is a capable regular-season goalie, but the playoffs are a different beast. Gibson, despite playing behind a rebuilding Ducks team for years, has a career .910 save percentage and has shown in the past he can be a true game-stealer. The Oilers don’t need a good goalie; they need a great one. They need a difference-maker who can steal a series, and Gibson has that pedigree.
Why a Change of Scenery Benefits Both Kane and the Oilers
Friedman believes there’s a natural fit for a deal, and it involves shipping the enigmatic Evander Kane back to California. This is where the trade makes a ton of sense from a hockey and a personnel standpoint. The frustration within the Oilers’ organization with Kane is palpable. One night he’s an unstoppable physical force who scores a key goal, and the next, he’s a non-factor for three straight games. That inconsistency is maddening for a team with championship aspirations.
For Kane, a move to Anaheim could be a perfect reset. He gets a change of scenery and a move to a more relaxed market where the pressure isn’t at a boiling point every single night. The warmer weather and lifestyle are certainly a draw his family would likely welcome.
For the Ducks, they take on a veteran player who can insulate their young stars, and they move on from Gibson’s $6.4 million AAV contract, fully handing the keys to the promising Lukas Dostal. It’s a classic hockey trade: the Oilers trade from a position of forward depth to address their most critical need, while the rebuilding Ducks shed a large contract for a player and likely other assets to accelerate their future. The money is tricky, with Kane carrying a $5.125 million cap hit, but it’s a manageable gap that can be bridged. This is a bold move, and bold moves are what win championships. Stan Bowman has to make the call.
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The post Quack & a-Kane? Why an Evander Kane for John Gibson Swap Makes Perfect Sense for the Oilers appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
