Shayne Gostisbehere was already traded before the offseason began, until the news broke that Matt Niskanen was retiring from the sport of hockey. Now Ghost is 100% healthy and has been given a clean slate by Head Coach Alain Vigneault, “We just had a good talk in the sense that it’s a clean slate,” Ghost said after Tuesday’s practice, “For him and I, we talked out obviously last season. I went through a tough time with injuries and really couldn’t be the player I wanted to be. I just told him I’m healthy and feel really good right now. This is the first time in a couple of years that I feel really good. I think it was a good talk, and like I said, it’s a clean slate going into the season.”
Regardless, of what some Flyers fans think of Ghost at the moment. It appears the Flyers are giving him every chance to succeed this season, hence the move to pairing him with Flyers star defenseman Ivan Provorov on day 3 of training camp.
From the video above it appears Ghost is pretty mobile once again, and really is making some nice cuts, “It’s definitely tough,” Ghost said of injuries and the trade rumors all offseason, “I’ve dealt through injuries a pretty good part of my career and obviously, when you sprinkle some trade rumors on top of that and not playing and you can’t get in the line-up, it’s definitely tough mentally. I think for myself, this break, not summer, I just worked on doing what is in my control. I can’t control what is going to happen. I can’t control where I am going to go. The only thing I can control is getting healthy and becoming the best player I can be.”
Speaking of trade rumors, “I’m getting pretty used to it now,” Ghost said, “It’s been a couple of seasons now going. Obviously, I pay attention to it because it’s my life and I’ve built a life here in Philly. Obviously, I am going to pay attention. It’s definitely not the best when you hear your name in trade rumors, but nothing happened, and I am happy to be here and help my team do the best.”
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This team obviously still believes in Ghost. Ghost believes he might be able to get back to form of being a top four Defenseman if he is placed into that spot this season. This is all unreal, as he just appeared on the outs of the Flyers organization by many, to include myself at times this offseason. Maybe just maybe Ghost has enough left in the tank to become the player he used to be on the Power Play.
Nolan Patrick Notes:
Patrick was involved with a heavy collision with fellow teammate during the scrimmage in Samuel Morin. Morin was going to hit a player, and accidentally hit Patrick. Patrick appeared to be shaken up, but shook it off on the bench. He did not miss a shift, which spells good news for this young 22-year-old.
