Philadelphia Flyers: AHL the Best Place for Gostisbehere

For years, the Philadelphia Flyers were (rightly) derided by many for their lack of patience. Bobby Clarke and Paul Holmgren (aka Bobby Clarke’s mini-me) routinely traded away draft picks, or rushed the picks they did keep to the NHL.

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The hiring of Ron Hextall brought applause from those same quarters, even if the longtime Philadelphia Flyer player hardly qualifies as an outsider. Hextall told those that would listen he would have a more patient approach. No more casual disposing of draft picks at the deadline, and in the offseason.

Furthermore, those players drafted would be handled with more caution. “There is no such thing as being too ready for the NHL, but there sure as hell is such a thing as being rushed before you are ready,” Hextall said. Under this approach, surely 18 year-olds like Dainuis Zubrus and Luca Sbisa would not be immediately thrust into the NHL. There likely would be even more examples of such players rushed to NHL by the Philadelphia Flyers if they hadn’t traded away so many recent first and second round picks.

Which brings us to Shayne Gostisibehere (Ghost). Despite three goals thus far in the preseason and the applause of fans, the Flyers demoted him to the AHL yesterday. While he’s no teenager (he’s 22), there are plenty of areas of his game to refine and develop.

It is most useful to wind back the clock one year. Last preseason, Sam Morin and Ghost survived the entirety of training camp, and appeared to be on the verge of making the big club.

For Ghost, it wouldn’t be long until he saw NHL action. Ghost played 2 games with the Flyers last October due to injuries on the big club. Certainly I was not the only Flyers fan who salivated at seeing him make his NHL debut, but then-coach Craig Berube wasn’t so eager.

Oct 25, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (53) against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Red Wings, 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Ghost was stuck at the end of the bench during his 2 game NHL cameo. He played about 12:30 minutes in each of those games, and then was whisked back to the AHL. Berube didn’t thrust him into the fire of NHL regular season action, primarily for concerns about playing in his own end.

The rest of the 2014-15 season was supposed to be valuable growing time for Ghost in AHL. This plan was cruelly ruined barely a week later with a major knee injury. Bam, season over after only 7 professional games.

Ghost has always been a bit of a project player. He can be thrilling with his skating and offense, but he is very slight. There are many concerns about his ability to handle NHL forwards in front of the net or on the boards, as well his ability to make secure plays with the puck under the heat of an NHL forecheck.

No one disputed his need to grow and improve in those areas last fall, and 7 pro games and a year in the rehab gym hardly develops those skills.

Sep 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (53) shoots against the New York Rangers during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

I’ll give Ghost the benefit of the doubt. I’ll assume his pretty goals this preseason show he is NHL-caliber in the offensive zone. I’ll presume his year on the sidelines still made him more physically and mentally mature. And I’ll presume Dave Hakstol and his system is a better fit for Ghost’s assets. The question still remains, is the AHL a better place for Ghost right now?

No one disputed his need to grow and improve in those areas last fall, and 7 pro games and a year in the rehab gym hardly develops those skills.

I say yes. Even given the benefit of all those presumptions, Ghost would likely be a 3rd pair, 2nd PP unit player in Philadelphia this season. As a Flyer, he’d be thrilling to watch in offensive zone, but may be exciting in the defensive zone for the wrong reasons. I’d rather see Ghost have a major role in the AHL against grown professionals, albeit at a reduced level of competition.

This demotion to the AHL isn’t a banishment. Ghost’s time as a Philadelphia Flyer will come soon enough. If Hextall manages to ship out a defenseman or two, and/or Ghost shows he can handle himself against pros in his own end in the AHL, that time may even come sooner rather than later.

Either way, relax. There is no such thing as being too ready for the NHL, but there sure as hell is such a thing as being rushed before you are ready.

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