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Montreal Canadiens: What If Marc Bergevin Goes All-In This Season?

By Ken MacMillan

NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 03: New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall (9) skates during the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Vegas Golden Knights on December 3, 2019 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 03: New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall (9) skates during the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Vegas Golden Knights on December 3, 2019 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 29: Shayne Gostisbehere #53 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on against the Detroit Red Wings at the Wells Fargo Center on November 29, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 29: Shayne Gostisbehere #53 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on against the Detroit Red Wings at the Wells Fargo Center on November 29, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Shayne Gostisbehere

The Canadiens are already searching for left defencemen and will continue to do so until they are able to acquire someone who can help out via trade. Luckily for them, there should be a number of intriguing options available to them before the trade deadline hits.

They could use someone that can move up and down the lineup and possibly even play on the top pairing with Shea Weber. Ideally, this player would also be able to help out on the penalty kill which is a huge sore spot for the Canadiens. They could also use someone to quarterback the power play.

There will be options as players like Ron Hainsey, Marco Scandella, Alec Martinez, Jake Muzzin, Erik Gustafsson and Mark Borowiecki are all left shooting defencemen who are on expiring contracts and on teams that are outside the playoff picture. Most, if not all of them will be available via trade.

However, we are assuming Bergevin is going “all-in” here and with all due respect to Hainsey, Borowiecki and Gustafsson, acquiring one of them doesn’t really move the needle.

In fact, none of the aforementioned players make a team measurably better. So that’s why I think Bergevin should look elsewhere if he wants to make a big splash. There have been rumours for so long that he could target Shayne Gostisbehere that I don’t even need to look up how to spell Gostisbehere anymore.

The Philadelphia Flyers defenceman isn’t having his best season, but the 26 year old had 65 points just two seasons ago. A fresh start and a partner like Weber could bring out the best in the American defender again. With just nine points in 25 games this season and a recent benching, his value is definitely lower than it used to be.

He has three years left on his deal at a cap hit of $4.5 million per year. The Flyers could be looking to move on from Gostisbehere, epically considering they have Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim and Robert Hagg on the left side.

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