The Anaheim Ducks announced Saturday that they've given goalie John Gibson an eight-year contract extension with a $6.4 million AAV.

The 25-year-old Gibson is coming off the best season of his career, posting 31 wins, a 2.43 goals against average, .926 save percentage and four shutouts. He helped Anaheim reach the postseason for the eighth consecutive season, though they were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round.

Through his young career, Gibson has a 93-55-20 record, with an impressive 2.29 goals against average and .923 save percentage. Surprisingly, he wasn't one of the three nominees for the Vezina Trophy this year, which went to Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne.

Gibson has also been excellent in the postseason, helping the Ducks reach the Western Conference Final in 2017, where they'd fall to the Nashville Predators in six games. Gibson has struggled to stay healthy throughout a full season, but he's easily a top-five goalie in the NHL when healthy now.

Many of the Ducks core players were injured throughout the 2017-18 season, namely Ryan Kesler and top defenceman Cam Fowler. Had it not been for a late-season surge by Gibson and the Ducks, this team would have missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Anaheim's top players are entering the end of their prime years, and the Stanley Cup window is closing rapidly. But it was crucial to get their star goalie under contract long-term, giving Anaheim a chance to compete in 2018 and 2019.

In re-signing Gibson, most of Anaheim's core players are locked up long-term. There's little salary cap space remaining for GM Bob Murray to make any substantial moves, however. But he had no choice but to reward the team MVP with a long-term extension.

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