Ghost in the Machine
Despite a flurry of recent trade rumors involving defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and the Montreal Canadiens, and three games in a row as a healthy scratch, it would appear as though the 26-year-old puck-moving blueliner rediscovered his game with no plans on looking back.
It’s been a roller coaster of a career for Shayne Gostisbehere. While entering his sixth season in the league for the Flyers, Gostisbehere has experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows professionally. While still very young with a long career still ahead, it has been the inconsistency that has plagued Shayne the past three seasons.
His 2015-2016 season set the hockey world ablaze by totaling 17 goals, 29 assists and 46 points with his first full season up with the Flyers. Gostisbehere became a household name around the league in the 2015-2016 season not only statistically but his ability to move the puck on the blue line offensively with Patrick Kane-like skill level. He eventually became the missing link on the first powerplay line that lasted throughout the following seasons.
Regardless of any recent drop-offs in points, ice time or even starting line promotions, it should go without saying there is an untapped level of skill in Gostisbehere that we have only caught a minor glimpse of in previous seasons. A rather large sample size, admittedly. However, if challenged and nurtured by the Flyers new coaching staff and new direction from the front office could manage to be a major source of offensive contribution on the road to a playoff birth in the next three months.
Recharge. Regroup.
Head coach Alain Vigneault recently elected to healthy scratch Gostisbehere for three games against Calgary, Vancouver and Columbus consecutively due to confidence issues. Leading up to the scratches, In 22 games, Gostisbehere had only one goal, six points, and was a minus-5 rating. Defensively he was coughing up possession in the defensive zone and losing board battles consistently. Visually Ghost appeared to look rattled after failed plays between whistles and back on the bench.
However, in his first game back against Detroit at Wells Fargo Center Gostisbehere racked up a goal and first star of the game. Ghost has tallied up three goals total and one assist since his return. His play away from the puck has noticeably improved on his backchecking and his possession with the puck on the blueline is as much fun to watch now in the past five games as anything we were privileged enough to watch in 2015-2016.
Proving once more that some players can truly benefit from a break off the ice to mentally regroup, and gain enough confidence back to make a difference on the ice.
Deal Or No Deal?
As for the trade rumors, they’re just those. Rumors. Nothing to hang your hat on until made official and as of now, Gostisbehere is proving to General Manager Chuck Fletcher as well as coaching staff- that his game has rebounded back in a big enough sample size to make any interest in executing a trade to be a tough trigger to pull (now) than it was two weeks ago. The team is winning, and Fletcher gained a reputation with his previous tenure in Minnesota as an “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” GM.
Ghost’s offensive ability to control playmaking on the blueline can not only open up lanes for his blistering slapshot from the point but also free up enough time and space for this extremely talented offensive team to put the puck in the back of the net.
In the end, if this team is anywhere near a playoff spot in March, having Gostisbehere playing up to his level can help this roster not only secure a slot with seven other teams in the East battling it out but maybe even win a round or three.
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