Another goalie trade in the works!

On Monday, netminder Alexandar Georgiev was traded to the San Jose Sharks by the Colorado Avalanche for goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. It appears that another trade involving a goaltender could take place shortly, with Pierre LeBrun reporting that the Carolina Hurricanes have talked with the Anaheim Ducks about a potential trade for goaltender John Gibson.

LeBrun also revealed on last night’s Insider Trading on TSN that the Canes were also reportedly interested in Blackwood before he was dealt to Colorado. Here is what he said on the segment:

“From Carolina’s perspective, they need assurance, insurance behind [Pyotr] Kotchetkov. They have their number one already, but they’re a little concerned with what happens if he goes down, especially at playoff time. “That’s why they continue to make calls around the league.

"There are other options. There’s Dan Vladar in Calgary, Anton Forsberg in Ottawa, Karel Vejmelka in Utah. The problem is, none of those teams are ready to be sellers, they’re trying to make the playoffs.

“None of those goalies, so far, have really been on the market, so Carolina is trying to be patient, but they’re ready to trade for one now.

“And of course, the bigger name, John Gibson . We’ve talked about him before, and yes, the Hurricanes have talked to Anaheim about him, but the price is going to have to come down to trade for a goalie that has a couple more years left on his deal.”

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also reported about the Hurricanes looking to make a goalie trade in his latest 32 Thoughts column. He writes:

“Carolina was very serious about MacKenzie Blackwood before he went from San Jose to Colorado. That was a nice piece of business for the Sharks — acquiring Blackwood for a sixth-rounder, turning him into a second-rounder and Nikolai Kovalenko. Alexandar Georgiev’s time reached its end in Denver. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes continue their own goalie pursuit. Depending on who you believe, John Gibson’s been very close to a Carolina residency anywhere from zero-to-two times. It’s been an on-off courtship between the Ducks and Hurricanes over Gibson for years.”

It’s been a few seasons that Gibson has heard his name mentioned in trade circles. At the start of the year, the veteran goalie was injured, but has posted a .903 save percentage in nine appearances since returning.

Gibson is signed through 2026-27 with a $6.4-million cap hit, but could lose his starting job to young netminder Lukas Dostal, who’s recorded a .920 save percentage in 17 games for the Ducks this season.

The Hurricanes are seeking help and experience in between the pipes, especially to support Pyotr Kochetkov, who’s managed an .894 save percentage this year. There is also Spencer Martin, who’s been even worse with an .846 mark, have started 24 of Carolina’s 28 games this season. The Canes lost veteran netminder Frederik Andersen, who’s been out since October and was given an eight-week timeline after undergoing knee surgery in late November.

And so we could see another goalie trade soon enough.