Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson will miss the next 3-to-6 weeks after undergoing an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday night, the team announced.
The veteran net minder has been one of the busiest goalies over the last few years given the rebuilding defence in front of him. Over the last 4 seasons, Gibson is one of only four NHL netminders with 5,000-plus saves (5,533). Connor Hellebuyck (WPG, 6,648), Jusse Saros (NSH, 6,529) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL, 5,901) being the other three. He also ranks 10th in starts (187) and 11th in appearances (190) during that period.
While the team stopped short of putting any kind of a definitive timeline on Gibson’s return, if he were to fall on the longer end of the 3 to 6 weeks, he could be in jeopardy of missing opening night.
The 31 year old posted a 13-27-2 record last season along with a 3.54 GAA and .888 SV%. Gibson was expected to share the crease with Lukas Dostal this season, but his absence could mean that 29 year old Oscar Dansk beaks camp with the NHL club.
Anaheim is scheduled to open the 2024-25 campaign against the San Jose Sharks on October 12th.
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