The Arizona Coyotes traded defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2026 third-round pick, the teams announced Wednesday.
An offensive-minded blue-liner who excels at quarterbacking a power play, Gostisbehere recorded 10 goals and 21 assists in 52 games for the Coyotes this season. He's entering the final year of his contract and carries a $4.5-million cap hit.
Shayne Gostisbehere, acquired by CAR, is a useful offensive defenceman who moves the puck pretty well (especially in the offensive zone) and has a great shot for a blueliner. #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/Tg4WYZ0sXf
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 1, 2023
Gostisbehere, 29, projects to slot in on the left side of the third pair of Carolina's blue line behind Jaccob Slavin and Brady Skjei. He'll likely get some time on the second power-play unit, too, as Brent Burns currently runs the top unit.
The Pembroke Pines, Florida, native is vying for his third 50-point season. Gostisbehere tallied 51 a year ago with the Coyotes and 65 in 2017-18 with the Philadelphia Flyers, when he finished 10th in Norris Trophy voting. He was also the Calder Trophy runner-up to Artemi Panarin in 2015-16 when he racked up 17 goals and 29 assists in 64 contests.
The Coyotes acquired Gostisbehere, a second-round pick, and a seventh-rounder from the Flyers for nothing during the 2021 offseason.
Arizona now has 23 picks in the first three rounds over the next four drafts.
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