Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson has reportedly requested a trade. But his agent has refuted that report. So who's correct, and why don't the two see eye-to-eye?
We have a rare player versus agent showdown for the ages.
Rumors were circulating that veteran goalie John Gibson wanted to be traded from the Anaheim Ducks. However, his agent Kurt Overhardt stated on Monday that this was false. Overhardt also criticized hockey insider Frank Seravalli for reporting on a podcast that Gibson said he would not play for Anaheim again.
Why are John Gibson, agent not on same page with trade request?
Here is the soundbite Overhardt was referring to.
Here is the agent's response.
In Frank's defense, this isn't the first time Overhardt has called him out for false reporting, and he made sure to let him know.
For what's it worth, Sportsnet's Elliote Friedman also reported that Gibson wants out and the Ducks are doing everything they can to make his fantasy become a reality.
The Ducks had a disappointing 2022-23 season, finishing last in the NHL with only 58 points and a 23-47-12 record. Gibson,29, had a tough year with a 3.99 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage, both career lows.
Anaheim set a new record in the salary cap era with the most shots against per game, averaging 39.1. Gibson, who the Ducks drafted in the second round of the 2011 draft, has a career record of 180-179-59 with 2.83 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.
The Ducks have failed to make the playoffs since the 2017-18 season. Before that, the team had five straight first-place finishes in the Pacific Division from 2012 to 2017.
Gibson plans to play for a different team next year due to Anaheim's rebuilding process, according to Seravalli's interview on the Nasty Knuckles podcast.
"How do you think John Gibson felt the last three of four years in Anaheim, just getting absolutely pummelled with shots on a nightly basis?" Seravalli said. "Knowing when you walk into the rink every day, that you have next to no chance to win."
But Gibson doesn't want to leave the Anaheim Ducks, according to the statement from Overhardt. He is committed to supporting the team and its fans. Gibson himself addressed the rumors on the Cam & Strick podcast." I had some conversations with Pat Verbeek (Ducks GM)." "There's a little uncertainty; I'm not sure what's going to happen. "Whether I'm in Anaheim or somewhere else, I'm just worried about being ready to play."
Those words made it sound like Gibson is open to being traded. It begs the question, why aren't the goaltender and his agent on the same page? Gibson said he'd like to keep what was said between him and Verbeek private, but it doesn't sound like the netminder made an exception for his agent. Gibson will enter his fifth year in the midst of an 8x$6.4 million extension he signed with Anaheim in 2019.
