It’s hard to understand much of the meaning of summer hockey, but Friday afternoon’s World Junior Summer Showcase game between Canada and Finland came with extra power for defenseman Andrew Gibson.
Just over a month ago, the Detroit Red Wings traded Gibson to the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Jesse Kiiskinen and a second-round pick. In Friday’s game, Gibson faced Kiiskinen, who is the Finland team captain.
“Obviously I want to prove to Nashville that I’m worth so much,” Gibson said. “Playing against him makes me want to work even harder and play even harder against him, specifically, and against everyone else on the team as well.”
Mandatory Credit: two points; David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
The two crossed paths a few times in the game, mainly in front of the net. They also lined up head-to-head in some clashes. “I don’t know if he recognized me,” Gibson said, “but I kind of looked at him and thought, ‘Hey, that’s the guy I got traded for.’ It’s very funny.
Gibson left those exchanges at the end of an 8-6 game-winner that would have been a blowout if not for a late push from Finland on the power play. He was on the ice for a few goals, including a power play goal that Kiiskinen assisted on.
Overall, there’s a lot to like about Gibson’s game. His shutdown style helps his teammates. This role is probably Gibson’s best chance to form Team Canada, a star-studded team that needs players like him to bring it all together. The same goes for any NHL hopeful, where his closeout play is his strongest attribute. It’s the kind of functional role that makes the NHL’s path clear, which is why a team like Nashville was willing to trade for him and give up extra assets.
The negotiation itself surprised Gibson, he admits. He thought he was “safe” from such a shock. At age 19, having just signed his entry-level contract with Detroit less than a year after drafting him, Gibson thought there was no way to trade him, nor did his family. When Gibson got the business call, he told his mother. She thought he was joking.
“Obviously, I was devastated at first,” Gibson said. “Being right in my backyard, I trained there every day and it was a great time to be there with the guys, to meet everyone, for them to see me all year round. But I’m also really happy to be in Nashville.”
It’s fateful that Nashville ended up with Gibson, because that’s where Detroit drafted him. When the trade happened, he had to scramble to book flights for a return trip to attend the development camp. He also had to revamp his equipment, swapping out some red and white elements for Nashville’s yellows and blues. Fortunately, he can still wear his red gloves and helmet as a backup for next season with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL, who wear a similar red and white colorway. The other things Gibson gave to friends and family as souvenirs.
Whatever color your gear is, it’s only a matter of time before anything Gibson uses is riddled with black stains from blocked shots. It’s a skill he is very proud of.
“You want to have confidence in the last minute of the game,” Gibson explained. “If you’re winning and you’re that guy who’s going to put your face in front of a puck for (your team) — for a win — they’re going to put you on the ice. And I’m proud to be able to do that.”
Your teams appreciate it too. Take it from your Greyhounds goalie Landon Miller, who Detroit selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
“He’s a great guy to be a teammate with, especially as a goaltender,” Miller said on June 29 at the draft. “He’s a great defender, a great shot blocker.” They have been friends and teammates for years with both the Soo Greyhounds and their Junior A affiliate, the Soo Thunderbirds. Miller elaborated that Gibson’s shot blocking has as much of a mental effect on the goalie’s confidence as it does the physical effect of one less shot to save. “Their sacrifice means everything to a goalkeeper, especially on penalties and things like that. It’s exciting to see when guys are exposing their bodies to you.”
If Gibson’s hockey career had gone a little differently, perhaps he would have been in net himself. “I was probably the best road hockey goalie on the street, but I played one game and let in 10,” Gibson joked. “But we won 11-10, so I’m 1-0.” But Gibson’s willingness to stop pucks didn’t immediately translate into being a shot-blocking defender.
“In minor hockey, I didn’t block a shot,” Gibson said. “I didn’t know how to do it. I was scared. I always did the flamingo. But about two years ago, in my first year in the OHL, I realized I needed to change my game. I’m the big guy who can play defensively and offensively, and to improve my defensive game, I needed to learn how to block shots.
The technique came down to many of the same skills used as a goaltender — for example, reading a shooter’s stick or knowing when to move toward a puck. Gibson even notices how opponents throw, remembering their throw so he can slow down the timing to block them. Once Gibson got the hang of blocking shots, it was all he wanted to do.
Blocking shots like Gibson does has its costs, evidenced by all the extra padding he puts on his gear for shock absorption. No matter the technique or technology, blocking shots at 80 miles per hour hurts.
It’s a cost Gibson is willing to pay, whether it’s with the Greyhounds, Team Canada or now, potentially the Nashville Predators. By doing so, he hopes to prove to teams that he is worth it.
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