On March 30, the Philadelphia Flyers put defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere on waivers. Gostisbehere has had a rough season with the Flyers. He’s put up a solid 11 points in 25 games, but has made dozens of costly defensive mistakes. The 27-year-old, who put up 65 points just a few seasons ago, still has some gas left in his tank. According to CapFriendly, Gostisbehere’s contract carries a $4.5M cap hit every season until 203-24. With those numbers in mind, should the Detroit Red Wings claim Shayne Gostisbehere?
An Overview of Shayne Gostisbehere’s Career
Gostisbehere was drafted 78th overall in the 3rd round of the 2012 NHL draft. His big breakout came in the 2015-16 season, where he went on a 15-game point streak to score 46 points in 64 games. Fun fact: Gostisbehere actually obtained more Calder Trophy votes than Connor McDavid did that year. Since then, it’s been the Tale of Two Players for Gostisbehere. He reached career highs in the 2017-18 season, scoring 65 points in 78 games. Since then, he’s struggled to hold his own on the defensive end, to the point where he’s been waived by the very team that’s praised him so highly.
What’s to be done with Shayne Gostisbehere? Is it worth it for the Red Wings to take a flyer (no pun intended) on this offensive defenceman?
The Pros of Picking Up Shayne Gostisbehere
To start, it’s important to gauge the Flyers’ current situation. Their defence has been abysmal at best. In two games against the New York Rangers, they let in nearly 20 goals. While Gostisbehere isn’t without fault, it’s hard to place the blame squarely on him. He might be a player that would benefit from a change in scenery. Gostisbehere has a terrific shot to make a new name for himself with the Red Wings. As the trade deadline commences, opportunity will open on the Red Wings’ blue line. Gostisbehere could take the role of someone like, say, Marc Staal, if he’s shipped off to a contender.
The important thing with Gostisbehere will be managing expectations. Believing he’ll become the next Victor Hedman is just wishful thinking at best. If the Red Wings do make a claim for Gostisbehere, they’ll need to treat him like the Oilers do Tyson Barrie. Limit his exposure while allowing him time to flourish on the offensive end will do wonders for the team. It’ll also give the Red Wings the power play quarterback they’ve been looking for. The best part is that, even if Gostisbehere doesn’t pan out, his contract is only on the books for the next two seasons. What’s the risk?
The Cons of Picking up Shayne Gostisbehere
The risk is that he only further stagnates an already abysmal offense. The Red Wings need a youth movement — and Gostisbehere is 27. By the time his contract ends, he’ll be approaching 30. He’s not the 65-point player he was at his peak. Even if he does encounter some sort of resurgence, there’s no telling how high that ceiling will be. If the Flyers are placing him on waivers, fully knowing his ability, what do they know that Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings don’t? Were the Flyers unable to find a suitable trade partner, or was something else in the works?
Either way, it’s important to note that the NHL is in a flat cap situation. With the rise of helmet sponsors and brand partnerships, every team is strapped for cash. Will Chris Illitch, owner of the Red Wings take a risk for such an expensive asset? Or will he advise Yzerman to hold off until the team is in a better contending picture? With such a limited wiggle room, the best course of action for the Red Wings might be to play it safe. If he’s claimed by another team, it won’t be much of a loss for the Red Wings — but if he isn’t, it’s clear that 30 other teams didn’t want to take the chance, either.
Conclusion
This seems like a low-risk, high-return opportunity for the Red Wings. If Gostisbehere has a resurgence, but doesn’t fit in the Red Wings’ future, they can expose him during the Seattle Kraken’s expansion draft. If he’s a fit, they can use him to help build their blue line while they develop more defensive prospects. But, if he doesn’t pan out, at worst, he’s just empty money on the books and a few extra points. Additionally, if the Red Wings ghost Gostisbehere, they’ll miss out on another opportunity for a potential trade asset next season. It’s a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
