Islanders Re-sign Christopher Gibson: Adding More Depth In Crease

The New York Islanders added more depth in net this week. New York re-signed 24-year-old goalie Christopher Gibson to a one-year extension.

On Friday, the Islanders extended 24 year old goalkeeper Christopher Gibson‘s contract for another year. He is guaranteed $85,000 playing in the minors next season.

Gibson made a limited impact in Bridgeport last year due to a lower body injury sustained early in the season. He never returned after his first 7 games, but he left with a perfect 6-0-0 record.

The Isles received Gibson as part of the trade that sent Michael Grabner to Toronto. So far he has posted a respectable career save percentage of .915 in the AHL. The 6-1, 187 lb Finn will turn 25 in December.

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Gibson only gets $70,000 in the minors, or $650,000 if he gets called up, so it’s is a cheap, safe, depth decision from the management.

This move matches the recent pattern of solidifying the Isles future in net. On July 1 the Islanders moved forward prospect Carter Verhaeghe to Tampa for Latvian goalie Kristers Gudlevskis. Like Gibson, Verhaeghe was acquired in 2015 as part of the Grabner deal.

Gudlevskis is about Gibson’s age and the two of them will likely battle for the Sound Tigers starting position next year. The larger (six-foot-three, 223 pound) Latvian made his name frustrating Canada in the Olympics.

A couple months ago NY also signed Swedish crease keeper Linus Söderström to a three-year entry-level contract. The Isles hope they may have found the next Lundqvist since Söderström’s 1.34 goals against average topped the SHL last season.

These aren’t the only goalies in the pipeline either. Although it seems unlikely, the Islanders could still end up with Russian tendy Ilya Sorokin, who has posted amazing numbers lately in the KHL. 22-year-old Eamon McAdam still has two more years on the books for NY as well.

All told it seems the Islander’s future in net is secure. Gibson is a talented goalie. If he can stay healthy and produce he may surprise people by earning another extension.

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On the other hand, Gibson could find himself part of a trade later this season owing to the overage of young goalie talent in the Isles camp.