Is Flyers’ Shayne Gostisbehere’s Resurgence Too Little Too Late?

It is well known by now that Flyers’ Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has gone through some struggles as of late. Having problems adapting to a new coach’s system, being injuried, finding himself being a healthy scratch, and being bashed by the media, Gostisbehere (A.K.A. Ghost) played in just forty-two games this season and totaled just 12 points on the year. This is a far cry from his break-out season in 2017-2018 where he totaled 65 points and looked to be the next Erik Karlsson (the now San Jose Sharks offensively talented blueliner). 

After having a disappointing year under the recently replaced coach Dave Hakstol last season, Ghost was hopeful to have a fresh start in his now 6^th season in the NHL. Unfortunately, this seemed to backfire on Shayne as he realized that the now five-time nominee of the Jack Adams award (given to the league’s Coach of the Year) was here to make this team do a complete 180 and he was not going to put up with any half-hearted or lackluster play from his team- no matter who they are. It was at that point that the now twenty-seven-year-old defenseman began to find himself in the coach’s doghouse for his inability to get back and play defense (the position he is assigned to) after catching the rush into the offensive zone. Throughout the course of the season Gostisbehere found himself playing less and less under coach Vigneault. This, among other things, affected Ghost’s play. 

With his once cannon-like blast from the blue line suddenly losing both its accuracy and velocity (becoming a rarity to even hit the net, let alone find the back of it. To Shayne’s skating ability which began to slip as well going from once skating end to end looping around any opposition in his way to him creating frequent turn overs when the slightest pressure was applied. 

With his point production plummeting this had most inquiring just what was wrong with this once 5-star prospect?  Continuing in his fall from grace, Ghost eventually found himself  labeled as a  healthy scratch and being forced to view games from the confines of the press box, which is usually a last-ditch effort from a coach that quickly gets the player’s attention and acts as a wake-up-call to a sub-par player to step up his game; However, this had an adverse reaction on Ghost, causing him to spiral farther into his decent. 

In January, shortly after being scratched, the team announced that Gostisbehere was to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee (this coming after having hip and abdominal surgery back in 2016). Since January, the teams’ 7th defenseman (Robert Hagg) was given an opportunity to step in and play on a nightly basis- and play, he did! Hagg took advantage of his chance and ran with it:  Rapidly gaining confidence with every game played, Hagg quickly became one of the team’s best defensive defenseman, solidifying his role on the Flyers’ Blueline possibly for some time to come. 

Once returning from surgery, Ghost was assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms- the team’s American Hockey League affiliate- for a conditioning stint, as well as to showcase to other teams in the league that he was healthy before the ever-looming trade deadline. Now in a place where he should have shined, Shayne found himself getting out-played during his time with the Phantoms by the now-Flyers defenseman Mark Friedman (who made the best of a short stint in the NHL this season, earning himself a one year NHL level contract in the process; starting next season.) With Ghost’s less-than-impressive showing in the AHL, the Flyers were not able to pull off a deadline deal that would have sent Shayne packing, even though reports and rumors deemed a trade almost imminent. 

This forced Gostisbehere to return as the Flyers’ 7^th defenseman, which also obligated Philadelphia to have to pay Ghost the rest of his $4.5 Million dollar salary to not play and be on the hook for his contract for another three seasons after this one. Lucky for Shayne, this unforeseen layoff (with the COVID-19 virus) occurred which brought play to a screeching halt. The shutdown allowed Gostisbehere an opportunity to go under the knife YET AGAIN (!); This time having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee about two months ago. 

Now that he is back in camp, Ghost looks to have returned with a sense of resurgence! Skating better than he has in months, Shayne has not only seemed to have returned to his old form but has come back with a new mindset as well: Competing his hardest in any and all drills and even recently scoring a goal in the teams’ first scrimmage against one another! This sudden resurrection in Gostisbehere’s play may be due to the harsh reality of what happened during his little hiatus- The continued development of fellow defenseman Robert Hagg, Mark Freidman, and prospect Egor Zamula. Watching those players develop possibly has Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher pondering once again just why the team requires Gostisbehere’s services, when he could be replaced for a fraction of the cost by one of these more than capable younger players. 

That raises a question of just what should the Flyers do with Gostisbehere moving forward? An obvious answer would be to look to acquire something for him in the shorted offseason via a trade with another team. This (as has been proven in the past) will be easier said than done. Remember: Ghost is now a twenty-seven-year-old defenseman who has had multiple knee surgeries and a hip surgery. So not only will his medical file be scrutinized by any team willing to possibly take a chance on him, but his recent body of work (as shown on film) will as well.  Think about it- why would a team be willing to take on a player and his $4.5 million dollar annually salary (for multiple years still to come) when said player can’t even crack the starting lineup of his current team?  The league has evolved into one that is about “what have you done for me lately”, not what you once did. 

So then what; a buyout? The league’s owners have already met and talked about their unwillingness to even have the option for a compliance buyout after the season, or moving forward, due to the lack of income and current inability to have fans attend games. 

How about the Seattle expansion draft, which is projected for June 2021? This would seem like the best option for the Flyers to rid themselves of Ghost’s overbearing $4.5 Million dollar cap hit, but with the way some of the younger Flyers have been playing and with only a limited number of players to protect, the Flyers might be forced to expose some much more talented players for the picking- even some more talented than Ghost. Since the team will only be able to save seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie, the Flyers will most likely look to protect the following players:

Defensemen Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim and Philippe Myers will likely be picked to be protected before Ghost yes, but that means Robert Hagg would be available to select as well. If history repeats itself, a new team starting out will likely side with youth rather than a lineup full of veterans so they will have players for some time to come. Preferably saving for later the right to select that veteran talent in-between the pipes; someone that could help carry that young franchise until they further develop. (Seattle will most likely select the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist, or LA’s Jonathan Quick for that veteran role).

Although, the Flyers are facing quite the conundrum being forced to pick between a long list of promising youth and a once (and possibly still great) now-veteran player in Shayne Gostisbehere, one thing is for certain: Under the direction of HC Alain Vigneault and GM Chuck Fletcher you can rest assured that the Flyers will make the right decision when the time comes. Look at the bright side- the Flyers are in a position that most NHL teams’ envy and would love to be in themselves- Remember: A position of depth is always a good position to be in!