Christopher Gibson
Gibson with the New York Islanders in 2018
Born (1992-12-27) 27 December 1992
Karkkila, Finland
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 188 lb (85 kg; 13 st 6 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Free agent
New York Islanders
Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL Draft 49th overall, 2011
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2013–present

Christopher Gibson (born 27 December 1992) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Gibson was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (49th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, although he never played for them, instead signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing in their minor league system before a trade sent Gibson to the New York Islanders.

Early life

Gibson was born in Karkkila, Finland to Peter, an artist and kick boxer from Saint Lucia, and a Finnish mother, Ulla Nurse. He was raised in Espoo, Finland[1] before moving to Saskatchewan at age 15 to attend Notre Dame College.[2][3]

Playing career

In Gibson's first year at Notre Dame College, the Notre Dame Hounds (Midget AAA) won the Telus Cup national championship (2009).

Following that year at Notre Dame, Gibson was drafted by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in the first round (16th overall) of the 2009 CHL Import Draft.[4]

Gibson was ranked as the number one goaltender from the QMJHL heading into the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.[5] Selected at 49th overall by the Los Angeles Kings, Gibson was the first goaltender selected from the Canadian Hockey League in the 2011 draft. Unsigned by the Kings, he would re-enter the draft, but was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs instead.

On 17 September 2015, Gibson was traded by the Maple Leafs, along with four other prospects, to the New York Islanders in exchange for Michael Grabner.[6]

On 2 January 2016, Gibson got his first taste of NHL action coming in relief for Thomas Greiss.[7] Gibson allowed one goal from Patric Hornqvist, but made 16 saves.[7] On 6 April 2016, Gibson got his first NHL start and his first NHL win with the Islanders against the Washington Capitals.[8] Gibson made 29 saves as the Islanders came back from a 3–1 deficit to win 4–3 in overtime. The win clinched the Islanders a spot in the 2016 playoffs.[8]

On 15 August 2016, the Islanders re-signed Gibson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $660,000.[9] On 11 March 2018, Gibson had a 50-save game against the Calgary Flames, becoming the first Islanders' rookie goaltender to do so since Billy Smith made 55 in 1972.[10][11]

After five seasons within the Islanders organization, Gibson left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on 9 October 2020.[12] In the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Gibson was initially rostered in the Lightning's taxi squad. He appeared in two games with the Lightning, recording a 1-1-0 record, a .875 save percentage and 2.66 goals against average and also played in two AHL games with the Syracuse Crunch, collecting 2 wins, .925 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average.

On July 28, 2021, Gibson signed as a free agent to a one year, two-way contract worth $750,000 with the Florida Panthers.[13] Gibson played exclusively with the Panthers affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers in the 2021-22 season, collecting 7 wins through 14 games.

As a free agent from the Panthers, Gibson went un-signed over the summer before accepting a professional tryout with the Arizona Coyotes. After attending the Coyotes training camp, Gibson was released without a contract during the pre-season on 30 September 2022.[14] On October 14, 2022, Gibson was named to the Coachella Valley Firebirds opening roster for their inaugural season in 2022–23, by agreeing to join the AHL affiliate of the Seattle Kraken on a professional tryout contract.[15] After appearing in one game with the Firebirds, Gibson was signed to an NHL contract by the Kraken, in agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract on October 27, 2022.[16]

International play

Medal record
Representing Finland Finland
Ice hockey
IIHF World U18 Championship
Bronze medal – third place2010 Belarus

At age 17, Gibson represented Finland at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships in Belarus, winning the bronze medal. Gibson was selected to the Finnish national junior team for the 2012 World Junior Championships in Canada.[17] Gibson turned 19 years old during the tournament.

Career statistics

Gibson in 2012
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2008–09 Notre Dame Hounds SMHL 18 16 1 0 1049 46 1 2.63 .894 6 6 0 360 11 1 1.83 .926
2009–10 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 29 8 19 0 1592 93 2 3.50 .884 4 2 1 230 13 0 3.39 .871
2010–11 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 37 14 15 8 2235 90 4 2.42 .920 4 0 4 219 19 0 5.20 .865
2011–12 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 48 27 17 4 2809 139 3 2.97 .893 18 9 9 1116 58 1 3.12 .903
2012–13 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 41 17 18 4 2279 117 4 3.08 .902 6 2 4 356 23 0 3.87 .898
2013–14 Orlando Solar Bears ECHL 20 8 9 2 1178 62 0 3.16 .892 2 1 1 123 4 0 1.94 .951
2013–14 Toronto Marlies AHL 12 5 6 0 640 26 0 2.44 .916 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 Toronto Marlies AHL 45 24 17 3 2605 105 2 2.42 .921 4 2 2 231 15 0 3.90 .866
2015–16 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 42 19 11 6 2351 106 2 2.70 .909 1 0 1 59 6 0 6.15 .860
2015–16 New York Islanders NHL 4 1 1 1 195 11 0 3.40 .882 — — — — — — — —
2016–17 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 7 6 0 0 380 16 0 2.52 .912 — — — — — — — —
2017–18 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 37 19 14 3 2131 86 4 2.42 .906 — — — — — — — —
2017–18 New York Islanders NHL 8 2 3 2 427 26 0 3.65 .908 — — — — — — — —
2018–19 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 40 22 11 5 2201 104 1 2.84 .902 4 2 2 283 9 0 1.91 .927
2018–19 New York Islanders NHL 2 0 0 0 40 1 0 1.50 .941 — — — — — — — —
2019–20 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 25 10 8 5 1380 64 2 2.78 .914 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 2 1 1 0 113 5 0 2.66 .875 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Syracuse Crunch AHL 2 2 0 0 120 5 0 2.51 .925 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 Charlotte Checkers AHL 14 7 5 2 815 38 1 2.80 .907 1 0 0 17 2 0 7.10 .600
2022–23 Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL 20 10 5 4 1105 55 2 2.99 .894 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 16 4 5 3 774 43 0 3.33 .901 — — — — — — — —

Awards and honours

Award Year
QMJHL
First All-Star Team 2011 [18]

References

  1. ↑ "Gibson, Christopher – NHL.com – NHL Entry Draft Prospect Profiles". Archived from the original on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "Christopher Gibson". marlies.ca. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Gibson would be excited to get start against Canada". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "2009 CHL Import Draft: Round 1". leaguestats.com. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "Nugent-Hopkins Ascends Draft Rankings". Fox News. 11 April 2011.
  6. ↑ "Islanders acquire five players for Grabner". New York Islanders. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  7. 1 2 Hornick, Erik (3 January 2016). "The Skinny: Penguins 5, Islanders 2". NHL.com. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  8. 1 2 "Islanders, Lightning, Wild clinch playoff berths". NHL.com. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  9. ↑ "Gibson Agrees To One-Year Deal". NHL.com. New York Islanders. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  10. ↑ Vickers, Aaron (11 March 2018). "Gibson, Islanders defeat Flames, end eight-game slide". NHL.com. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  11. ↑ Pofahl, Kaylee (12 March 2018). "Islanders snap eight-game skid as rookie goalie Christopher Gibson notches 50 saves". sportingnews.com. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  12. ↑ "Lightning sign Borgman, Gibson". Tampa Bay Lightning. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Florida Panthers agree to terms with Goaltender Christopher Gibson". Florida Panthers. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "Coyotes reduce training camp roster". Arizona Coyotes. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  15. ↑ Coachella Valley Firebirds (14 October 2022). "Firebirds sign Gibson to PTO". Twitter. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  16. ↑ Seattle Kraken (27 October 2022). "Kraken sign Gibson to one-year contract". Twitter. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  17. ↑ "Granlund Bros. go to Alberta". IIHF.com. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  18. ↑ "QMJHL announce All-Star Team". The Chronicle Herald. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
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