Penguins in Serious Talks for Gibson Source Says

According to a Penguin Poop source, trade talks between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Anaheim Ducks for John Gibson are taking place. This source suggests that John Gibson wants to play for the Penguins, and would even take a pay cut to play. Now John Gibson is under contract until 2026/27, so we’re assuming either he’s saying if he wasn’t under contract he would play for cheap just to play for his hometown Penguins? A sort of example of how bad he wants to play for the Penguins, or when his contract is up he’ll play for whatever price they want just to retire with his hometown team.

The rumored trade is that the Ducks will take Jason Zucker and possibly another player, but they also want a 1st round pick. This is the apparent sticking point, as Ron Hextall does not want to trade away his 1st round pick nor any of the Penguins picks for that matter. Take all this with a grain of salt, not every aspect can be 100% verified yet.

It’s also a possibility that Marcus Pettersson might be in the discussion, though there can’t be much value to the Ducks, as they were the ones to trade him to the Penguins in the first place. They may take him back depending on what all is offered, if Marcus Pettersson is in the deal that would probably require that 1st round pick again or at least some sort of good prospect. Hextall is wary to even give a prospect, but he might have to give in to make the trade work. 

We essentially start getting into guesswork here for the actual trade, as the source said all that was mentioned was Jason Zucker, and then the Ducks wanting a 1st Round Pick being a sticking point, but most likely the trade would look something like the following if a deal is worked out without a draft pick.

Trade Guess #1

Anaheim Ducks Receive: Jason Zucker, Marcus Pettersson, Samuel Poulin (or another prospect)

Pittsburgh Penguins Receive: John Gibson, 5th Round Pick

Trade Guess #2

Anaheim Ducks Receive: Jason Zucker, Tristan Jarry, Samuel Poulin (or another prospect)

Pittsburgh Penguins Receive: John Gibson, 5th Round Pick

Trade Guess #3

Hextall might be convinced to give up a 1st Round for 2023 or 2024. We all know he won’t really want to give up the upcoming 2022 1st Round just in case the Penguins tank, he wants a shot at a possible generational player in Shane Wright.

Anaheim Ducks Receive: Jason Zucker, Tristan Jarry, 1st Round 2023 (Or 2024)

Pittsburgh Penguins Receive: John Gibson, 5th Round Pick

Trade Guess #4

This next one is based on that it’s rumored that Hextall is trying to move Kris Letang in a trade, unlikely as they said they will be keeping the “core” together, but let’s hypothetical one of these. Most likely we would have to retain about $1,250,000 bringing Letang’s contract to $6,000,000, or we would have to retain $2,000,000 bringing his contract to $5,250,000.

Anaheim Ducks Receive: Jason Zucker, Kris Letang, Prospect (or 2023/24 1st Round)

Pittsburgh Penguins Receive: John Gibson, 5th Round Pick

We also know that the Penguins are interested in Nicolas Deslauriers, he could possibly replace the 5th round pick as an option.

A Real Chance at John Gibson

I think we have a real shot here, this could put the Penguins in a really good spot, an actual shot at a lord Stanley. I mean you have to try and make this trade as GM, and it makes up for some of our shaky defense.

Fellow Penguin Poop writer “The Other Rick” mentioned even trading away Pierre-Olivier Joseph instead of other prospects. Who knows, but it’s good to know Hextall is at least trying for a goalie, and a great one at that, it’s even better to know the hometown boy wants to play for the Penguins and wouldn’t mind playing at a discount presumedly in the future. (or if he wasn’t under contract.)

The problem here, is Ron Hextall willing to actually give anything up for this trade? He’s a conservative GM and he does not like giving away prospects or draft picks, but it seems if he wants any chance at getting the Pittsburgh Penguins the stone wall John Gibson he’s going to have to give up one or the other.

In this particular case, I think you have to, John Gibson is a fantastic goaltender, at a good price, and we get to possibly free up some cap. I think the fact that they’re willing to take Jason Zucker is a lot already, I say give them a prospect or a first-round for 2023/24 instead of the upcoming if you really want a chance at Shane Wright, if the Penguins sink like the titanic this year.

I’ll be singing the praises of Lord Hextall if he manages to slide Kris Letang into the trade, yes I realize this makes our defense even weaker, but with some of that new free cap space, possibly trade for a big cheap defenseman, or at least a decent one, doesn’t matter to me, just someone to lay out bodies, or not I’ll just be happy to have Gibby!

All in all, we will see what happens, as I’ve said before and as I’ll say again, only time will tell….