Gostisbehere Clears; So Now What?

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Flyers placed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere on waivers. 24-hours later, we now know his fate.

After going unclaimed through the waiver wire, Gostisbehere is still with the Flyers & now on the taxi-squad.

With Gostisbehere clearing, the Flyers can move him up & down from the taxi-squad without waivers. A move that will save them about $1M in cap space when Gostisbehere is not on the roster. Which, gives the Flyers about $2.4M in cap space.

While many seemed to want Gostisbehere to be claimed, it shows what the market was for him. Which was no market at all.

Gostisbehere’s name has come up in trade rumors every year since GM Chuck Fletcher arrived. But, after being passed up for free, it confirms that he has little to no market at all.

In the short-term, with Gostisbehere now waiver exempt, the Flyers got what they wanted. An open roster spot & cap space flexibility to work with around the deadline.

It also opened up enough roster & cap space flexibility to bring up not one by two Flyers prospects. Something that GM Chuck Fletcher hinted at in his press conference last week.

“Don’t think some of them have the game reps that we hoped they would have at this time to maybe factor into a call-up role right now,” Fletcher said. “They are gaining experience. They are gaining games. They’re getting some of that now. Maybe in the next week or two, some of those kids will get a chance to play up here.”

Fletcher added “it’s been a little frustrating in the sense that a lot of those kids have dealt with injuries, COVID, or both, in a few cases.”

Could it be time for Tanner Laczynski & Wade Allison to be recalled? Maybe Egor Zamula?

In any case, no matter what comes from it, Fletcher took a risk. A risk that had two solutions. Both of which the Flyers were ok with.

The Flyers could have lost Shayne Gostisbehere for nothing. But, would have gotten $4.5M in cap relief. On the other hand, Gostisbehere can be a player for this team. Whether that be in the lineup or on the taxi-squad, giving them roster flexibility.

Now, in the lead-up to the deadline, which is 12-days away, Chuck Fletcher has a little more space. Which is a little more than he had yesterday. Which could be what he needed to improve this team ahead of the deadline.

Time will tell, but for now, Flyers have some flexibility. Even if it is just $1M.

PHOTO CREDIT : Flyers PR Guru Zack Hill