Colorado Avalanche: Should they Trade for Gostisbehere?

The Colorado Avalanche have been linked to trade talks bringing defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to the team.

The Colorado Avalanche need a defenseman and may be willing to move a core forward to get him. The Philadelphia Flyers have an under-utilized defenseman and need a forward for their playoff push. It seems like a match made in heaven.

Not so fast. It’s been rumored off and on that the Avalanche and Flyers have had talks about trading either Matt Duchene or Gabriel Landeskog for Shayne Gostisbehere. However, the trade hasn’t happened yet, so clearly there are obstacles.

On the Colorado Avalanche’s side, a team with a -65 goal differential can hardly afford to give up one if its best forwards. You’re not going to win any hockey games if you can’t score goals, no matter how many you prevent with great defensemen.

On the Philadelphia Flyers side, they seem very hesitant to get rid of a player who was a Calder Trophy finalist last season.

Let’s look at what Gostisbehere, or Ghost, would bring to the team if the Avs traded for him.

Shayne Gostisbehere

Position: Defenseman

Age: 23

Height: 5’11

Weight: 180 lbs

Shoots: Left

Drafted: Drafted by Philadelphia in 2012 (3/78)

Contract: entry-level, $925,000 cap hit, pending RFA

Shayne Gostisbehere is on the small side for NHL defensemen, though that’s the way the Colorado Avalanche have been going in recent months. He could use to bulk up a little and work on his physicality.

Ghost is an outstanding skater who moves the puck very well. He’s solid as a power play quarterback. He can also come up big at key moments — a lot like Tyson Barrie.

Gostisbehere has been a healthy scratch for three straight games, but it’s unlikely the Flyers have given up on their young defenseman yet. He has a lot of upside.

Ghost to the Colorado Avalanche

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Unless the Colorado Avalanche move Tyson Barrie, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for them to acquire Shayne Gostisbehere before the expansion draft. They’re already looking at having to protect four defensemen — Barrie, Erik Johnson, Nikita Zadorov and Francois Beauchemin because of his no move clause.

That already means they’re having to choose the eight-skaters option over the seven forwards,three defensemen option. Adding Shayne before the draft means they have to protect five defensemen and only three forwards.

Of course, that means little if they’ve traded Duchene or Landeskog because the only other forwards of note they have are Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, the latter of whom is ineligible because he’s a rookie.

As far as the Flyers go, there’s no reason to trade Gostisbehere this summer after the playoffs. They need forward help for their playoff push.

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Frankly, I’m glad the Ghost trade makes little sense for either team. He really doesn’t fit with what the Avs need. Instead, the Colorado Avalanche might consider trading for Philadelphia defenseman Michael Del Zotto.

Del Zotto is a smidge older at 26 but still plenty young enough for the Colorado Avalanche. He’s a mite bigger, too, at 6-foot, 195 pounds. He’s a good skater and puck mover who can long big minutes — and maybe take them away from Beauchemin. He needs to work a little on his defensive zone coverage, but then so does Francois.

Michael Del Zotto might come a little cheaper than Gostisbehere, too. The Flyers could hardly expect a Duchene or Landeskog for Del Zotto. The Avalanche might be able to put a package together that includes Joe Colborne or Andreas Martinsen plus a later draft pick for Michael.

Again, as long as the Colorado Avalanche have both Beauchemin and Barrie under contract, it probably makes little sense to try and puck up a decent defenseman before the expansion draft. If only the Avs could unload Beachemin’s contract, they’d be in a lot better positioning.

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