Have you heard this one before? The Oilers might need to acquire a goalie.
Last week, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun wrote an article about Anaheim Ducks’ netminder John Gibson, linking him to Edmonton, among other teams. The insider noted that Gibson “would consider” waiving his no-trade clause to join the Oilers. 
Gibson makes $6.4 annually on a contract that ends following the 2026-27 season. When he signed that deal in the summer of 2018, he was one of the best goalies in the league, coming off a season with a .926 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average in 60 games, with a 31-18-7 record. In year one of the contract, Gibson had a .917 save percentage and a 2.84 goals-against average in 58 games with a 26-22-5 record.
The 2017-18 season was the last time the Ducks made the playoffs and Gibson’s numbers have steadily been on the decline since then. From the 2019-20 season until the 2023-24 season, the 31-year-old has a .900 save percentage and a 3.36 goals-against average, along with an ugly 74-129-33 record.
While it’s true the Ducks have been terrible in that stretch, some of that does lie with Gibson, as his decline is real. With the emergence of 24-year-old Lukáš Dostál, who started the bulk of games while Gibson was out due to appendix surgery, the Ducks may look to move on from the veteran goaltender.
However, there are quite a few better options out there given Gibson’s cap hit and term. More specifically, there is one netminder from one of the other California teams that the Oilers should be all over: Mackenzie Blackwood.

Mackenzie Blackwood’s profile

Blackwood has had success in this league before. Selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the 2015 draft, he made his debut during the 2018-19 season, posting a .918 save percentage and a 2.61 goals-against average in 23 games played.
The following season, Blackwood became the team’s primary starter, playing in 47 games with a 22-14-8 record, along with a .915 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average. However, his play saw a decline in the 2020-21 season, playing 35 games with a 14-17-4 record along with a .902 save percentage and a 3.04 goals-against average.
In 2021-22, the Devils used seven netminders, with Blackwood playing 25 games, before an additional 22 games the following year as he lost his starting role to Vítek Vaněček, the other Sharks netminder. Before the 2023-24 season, Blackwood signed a two-year deal worth $2.35 million annually.
Blackwood’s stats on a surface level weren’t great in 2023-24, posting an .899 save percentage and a 3.45 goals-against average. However, when adding the context that the 2023-24 Sharks were one of the worst teams in league history, it makes a bit more sense.
For example, Blackwood had a sub-.900 save percentage, but allowed over three goals a game on average (3.45 goals-against average). That means he was getting peppered with shots, facing 1,383 shots last season, or 31 shots per game on average.
The Sharks have improved this season, as have Blackwood’s numbers. Through 14 games this season, Blackwood has a .909 save percentage and a 2.99 goals-against average, with a 4-7-3 record. Although the save percentage and goals-against average are better, Blackwood faces on average, 30 shots a game.
By no means will Blackwood challenge for the Vezina Trophy anytime soon, but he could do well as a 1B for the Oilers. For context, Blackwood’s 2.2 Goals Save Above Expected ranks 17th among goalies with 10+ games played in a sample size of 37. Oilers’ starter Stuart Skinner, on the other hand, has a -9.8 Goals Save Above Expected, second-worst in the league.
For the Oilers, trading for Blackwood is beneficial as he’s significantly cheaper than Gibson and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. If things don’t work out with Edmonton in this hypothetical situation, they won’t have to be saddled with his cap hit for the next two seasons. It is worth mentioning that the Sharks have no retention spots remaining, meaning the Oilers will have to take on his entire $2.35 million cap hit.
It also makes sense for the Sharks. They’re a rebuilding team that has made some progress this season but are still a few years away from contending for a Wild Card spot. Moreover, they recently called up one of the best goaltending prospects in the league, Yaroslav Askarov. 
The Sharks gave up a significant package for the 22-year-old netminder. Last season, he had a .911 save percentage and a 2.39 goals-against average in 44 American Hockey League games. After nine AHL games with the Sharks, Askarov has a .939 save percentage and a 1.92 goals-against average, proving he’s deserving of a shot in the National Hockey League.
Rather than Gibson, Blackwood is one of several cheaper and better netminders that could be an option for the Oilers as we inch closer to the trade deadline. If they want to improve in goal this season, Blackwood is the best option.
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