The Red Wings have once again added to their back end as Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports that they’ve signed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. It’s a one-year deal worth $4.125MM. PuckPedia adds the contract includes a 10-team no-trade clause.
The 30-year-old has seen his value change considerably over the last couple of years. It was only two summers ago that Philadelphia parted with a pair of draft picks (including a second-rounder) to simply offload Gostisbehere’s contract onto Arizona for no return. Considering his production had dropped to just 32 points over the previous two seasons combined, it was an understandable move given their cap situation.
That trade proved to be great for Gostisbehere who rediscovered his offensive touch in the desert. In 2021-22, he picked up 14 goals and 37 assists, putting him in a tie for 15th in NHL scoring by a blueliner. He followed that up with another impressive performance this past season, tallying 10 goals and 21 assists in 52 games with Arizona before being traded to Carolina at the trade deadline. Gostisbehere saw his playing time drop by 5:30 per game following the swap to just 17 minutes a night but he still managed to pick up 10 points in 23 games following the swap before adding three assists in 15 playoff contests.
With Detroit, Gostisbehere figures to be one of the key contributors from the back end, effectively filling the role that Filip Hronek held prior to him being moved to Vancouver at the deadline. While Moritz Seider is also in the mix offensively, they could opt to give Gostisbehere the top power play minutes to help manage Seider’s ice time. If that happens, Gostisbehere could be in line for another productive season, potentially helping to boost his value and land a multi-year deal next summer.
Even after the flurry of signings they’ve had today, Detroit still has more than $9MM in cap room at their disposal, per CapFriendly, with only Joe Veleno to re-sign as a restricted free agent. Accordingly, GM Steve Yzerman still has plenty of flexibility to work with if other opportunities to add to his roster present themselves.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to note the two sides were in discussions.
Leave it to Yzerman to have 18 forwards and 10 defenders while holding back prospects who play better than the overabundance of below averagness he signs in FA.
I really wish this duud would stop viewing FA like the draft.
If nothing else hes shown that “his success” is the product of stubborn trade negotiations and great scouting teams that draft for him
I cant wait for him to leave so that a capable GM will make the moves necessary to have this team be a cup contender. Holy crap
The farm is now loaded and a number of the signings are one year deals. Relax
There is maybe 3or 4 on the roster for 1 year and Yzerman has made it clear that he will continue with his overloading of the roster with mediocre players so it wont matter if they are gone at the end, theyll be replaced next FA not with prospects. We dont need a 10 year playoff drought just cuz Yzerman was a great player
All but two of these signings are a year. Out of nine. You can wish for Ken holland all you want. No thanks. He left a mess
You can blame Ken Holland all you want, but this is 100% Yzermans team and has been for a couple of years now
Just wait til he finds out injury call-ups and earning a spot in training camp are a thing.
Just wait until you find out about roster limits and there not being any spots to earn in training camp. Yzerman gonna have 12mil down in the AHL lol
There are, in fact, TWELVE players on the roster whose contracts expire after this coming season. Possibly Yzerman needs to worry less about his many sensible signings than you do about how much on the ball your elementary school math teachers were.
You seem very new to hockey.
Wonder what trade Yzerman is setting up for?
Likely sending out charot if he can .. Anaheim maybe?
Filling Grand Rapid depleted roster with some of the short term signings