Though it may not come as much of a surprise, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic confirms that Shayne Gostisbehere of the Philadelphia Flyers is available in trade talks as the offseason approaches. The team has “shown a serious willingness” to move Gostisbehere for the first time, even though his name has been in trade speculation for years.
It’s easy to see why that might be the case. Gostisbehere has fallen out of favor with the new coaching staff, seen his offensive production fall off a cliff, and still carries a $4.5MM cap hit for the next three seasons. The 27-year-old scored just 12 points in 42 games this season, playing the fewest minutes of his career and barely even getting into the Flyers postseason.
That said, this is a player that recorded a 65-point season as recently as 2017-18 and has shown an ability to contribute huge numbers in the offensive end. A powerplay quarterback, he has twice received votes for the Norris Trophy as one of the league’s best defensemen. No one would call Gostisbehere a shutdown defender in his own end, but he still does produce strong possession stats and may be seen by another team as a serious buy-low candidate.
Importantly, as LeBrun points out, Gostisbehere’s contract was also heavily front-loaded. That means the enigmatic defenseman will only actually earn $3.25MM in salary over each of the final three seasons, a lot less money than his $4.5MM cap hit suggests. For teams looking to cut costs while still remaining cap compliant, he may be a rather attractive target.
I guess he no longer “Gots To Be Here”
Would have to add a pick or two to get something halfway decent.
The Flyers would? This isn’t the Staal salary dump so much as it’s just clear he doesn’t fit in Philly plans anymore…the salary relief would be a bonus obviously
Wild took on more salary with the Staal trade.
I believe he was referring to the Marc Staal salary dump to Detroit by the Rangers.
To LA for a 3rd rounder.
hope Ghost can go to a team that actually appreciates him and will actually let him play.
12 points in 42 games over an average of 18 minutes per game, what is not to appreciate?
Any word on teams that are / would be interested?
Injuries played a part, usuage, coaching staff(s) and his confidence did too. Ghost gets rattled easily it seems, he was virtually useless in the defensive zone which lead to him losing his confidence offensively. You can’t dispute a player on the backend capable of 10-15 goals and 50-60 points has value throughout the league. Flyers should have used him as an offensive/point power play specialist and accepted that he’d need to partner with a very stay-at-home type…it work his rookie season and 1 other
Not a real proposal (the rivalry alone would scuttle it even if it was), just curious how much value Gostisbehere has lost the past few years…which overpaid, healthy scratched left shot D man do you like better…
Gostibehere for Mike Matheson, who says no?
No….first off, Flyers never help the Pens in any way, shape or form! Watching Ghost regain his offensive touch in Pittsburgh would be brutal, and Matheson..why!? A longer financial burden, a lesser talent.
ForWhomJoshBellTolls: put me down for an emphatic NO.
Just for the record, when the Pens won the Cup in 2017, the Flyers helped by paying part of Mark Streit’s salary.
And, in 1992, when we won the Cup, former Flyers Rick Tocchet, Kjell Samuelsson and Ken Wregget helped the Penguins win after repeatedly falling short in Philly.
And, actually, the Flyers inability to find a real goalie for decades in between Hextall and Hart was nice for us, too.
1992 was a much different time and the Flyers were rebuilding. It really wasn’t a rivalry at that time either.
Streit was traded to TB, not Pittsburgh. TB traded him to Pittsburgh.
92′, great flashback. Doubtful the Flyers thought they were helping Pittsburgh, Recchi was a legit player in those days, Tocchet was on the back end of his career…and yup, Streit went through Tampa ; because the Flyers refused to deal with Pittsburgh directly.
Easily Philly. Even if Gostisbehere’s value is at the point where his contract isn’t good, you have to take the shorter deal. I don’t think he’s a below average player, but if he was you’re not trading one bad player for a bad player on a longer contract.
actually we did find a goalie bobrovsky,unfortunately management had other ideas.
True, Steve.
I laughed like DeNiro in the movie theater scene in Cape Fear when they traded Bob, because I saw how great he was vs us in his rookie year and knew he was going to be very good.
Meanwhile, they gave his playoff starts to (I’m pretty sure this is right, but it sounds crazy to say) Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher and then signed Bryz to his humongous as the universe contract instead of keeping him.
dude why do you keep posting these lol
“Not a real proposal (the rivalry alone would scuttle it even if it was), just curious how much value Gostisbehere has lost the past few years…”
Do you read more than every fifth word?
unfortunately, I read every word.
Out of the dark, Sabres and philly could match up. Ghost could be useful for Buffalo when they trade Risto (fore gone conclusion). I honestly don’t know what philly needs but if they want younger prospects the have both d and fw that can entice philly. Now upper echelon prospects are off the table but b prospects might not be. Or Buffalo does have extra middle picks they can send. Just an idea. Plus too Pegulla’s like the idea of less money on useful players lol. Higher cap hit but less money to actually fork out I’m sure would peak this interest!
Fits Buffalo’s ownership, don’t think they are a fit though…but maybe. Flyers have lots of picks, significantly stocked with prospects…won’t need to be a superstar in return, but an NHL player at a lesser cost with control is probably what they are thinking…potentially opens up other moves
Ottawa sends one or two of their million draft picks for him.
Anaheim could also make a run at him too – they need D
His offense is way down, but he’s still a positive Corsi player. His big offensive season may have been a fluke, it happens. Someone is going to get a good player for cheap.
The ghost to Bruins for Bjork. Ghost replaces Krugs spot.. And also possibly Chara…
Probably along the lines of what they’re looking for…I think they will at least kick the tires on Laine, might cost Laughton and a 1st, or Sanheim and a 1st, replacing Laughton will hurt…less painful IF Patrick recovers, they bring an established…ish player back or Frost is ready for the show.
flyers defence coach michel therrien is the same guy that ran pk subban out of montreal.He is strictly defence and punishes anyone who dreams of offence,and then the organization wonders where the offence has gone.
Ghosts’ game was broken long before Thieren got a hold of it.