Should the Coyotes hold onto Gostisbehere or trade him?

Shane Gostisbehere is one of the rebuilding Arizona Coyotes most exciting players. Heading into Saturday’s road game against the Ottawa Senators he leads the team in points with 5 points through the first 4 games of the regular season. Those 5 points include a game winning power-play goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Ghost is already 29 years old though and he is on the final year of the 6-year deal that he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2017. He makes a team friendly 4.5 million per season and his playmaking abilities would make him an easy player to trade. However, should the Coyotes trade him or try and lock him up?

Gostisbehere is showcasing why he deserved the 6-year deal that the Flyers gave him.

Gostisbehere is a player worth keeping even though the Coyotes are a few years away from contending for the playoffs because of a variety of reasons.

1)  He’s a veteran presence on a young team that has several young defencemen that can definitely learn a thing or two from the 8-year NHL veteran. Players like J.J. Moser & Juuso Valimaki can definitely take advantage of his expertise.

2)  He’s an electrifying and dynamic player that entertains the fans. The Coyotes are in a new arena and trying to attract more fans in the Tempe area, so why not keep one of the team’s most exciting players?

3)  The Coyotes are already loaded with draft picks thanks to General Manager Bill Armstrong’s ability to mimic Oklahoma City Thunder’s General Manager Sam Presti prowess in acquiring draft capital. The Coyotes will have 13 draft picks in the first 3-rounds of draft over the next two years.

The Coyotes could certainly add more draft picks by trading Gostisbehere and maybe even a prospect or two. That is not necessary at the moment though and Gostisbehere would likely benefit the development of the team far more if he remains versus whatever picks or prospects the team can acquire by trading him.