Ducks in a Crisis: Is a War Brewing Between Their Star Goalies?

The Anaheim Ducks are in a season of transformation, and while the spotlight often shines on the young forwards and defencemen carrying this rebuilding effort, a new story is unfolding with their goalies. The team has been known for its inconsistency this season, but some surprising performances from their goaltenders have fans wondering who should take the helm moving forward.

John Gibson has long been the main netminder for the Ducks, and while he has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career, a downturn in form over the past year has led to speculation about his future role with the team. Luke Wright, an unheralded prospect, has taken the spotlight with impressive performances this season and appears to be gaining the trust of coaches and teammates alike.

While this shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise to fans of the team, Gibson's reduced ice time does raise questions about the potential controversy brewing between him and Wright. As Wright continues to impress in his appearances on the ice, the public seems to be calling for him to be the permanent starter for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, there's no denying the connection Gibson has with the team and fans.

A team that's trying to rediscover itself and find a rhythm could find itself caught between loyalty and choosing the best, more capable man for the job. It will be up to their head coach to minimize tension in the locker room and navigate the tricky goalie dilemma plaguing Anaheim.

Part of that dilemma may also be linked to the fact that Gibson is signed to a significant contract that may not expire for a while. It may be too big of a pill to swallow for Ducks management to juggle by just releasing their once and current star no matter how much talent their backup may possess. Furthermore, there may be potential candidates for Gibson on teams also struggling to stay afloat.

As an organization currently caught in rebuild mode, every asset counts and that's including both your goalies no matter what contract they have tied. The Ducks organization must balance juggling performances with long-term roster planning.

Whether or not there is merit to either side's opinion is hard to tell. Only time will tell what's to become of Gibson's and Wright's futures in the net. What we do know, is that the Anaheim Ducks organization has big decisions in the pipeline in order to progress towards where they aspire to be.