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After a quiet expansion draft, the Arizona Coyotes are coming out strong with a big acquisition, acquiring Shayne Gostisbehere from the Philadelphia Flyers along with a 2022 second-round pick and a 2022 seventh-round pick.
Official: We have acquired defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, a 2022 second round draft choice and a 2022 seventh round draft choice from the @NHLFlyers. https://t.co/tT8gvQzPiL
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) July 22, 2021
Gostisbehere is a left-handed defenseman who the Flyers drafted in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. In 381 games with the Flyers, he has 60 goals and 159 assists.
His production has taken a dip in recent seasons, but he is still a solid defenseman, and the fact that the team got him for nothing makes this all the better.
Shayne Gostisbehere isn't what he used to be, but he still looks like a solid second pairing guy who can capably run a power play.
— dom at the athletic (@domluszczyszyn) July 22, 2021
His best comp being John-Michael Liles feels incredibly apt. pic.twitter.com/YyTReoUL31
The Coyotes had only three NHL defensemen signed next season, and with this move, they add some offensive flair to their second pairing. The move may also make it easier for the team to facilitate an Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade if that becomes possible.
In Gostibehere, the Coyotes get a 28-year-old defenseman signed for two more years with a $4.5 million cap hit. If the Flyers have already paid his signing bonus for this season, the Coyotes will only be on the hook for $1 million this year and $3.25 million next year.