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Some of the Philadelphia Flyers‘ prospects have really stolen the show this summer. Ivan Provorov looks as advertised and Travis Konecny looks like a future star in the NHL. But defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has stolen the show, showing off blazing speed and a knack for putting the puck in the net.
In two games against the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, Gostisbehere tallied three goals; one of them being a beautiful rebound slapper past Isles goalie Christopher Gibson.
Even though Gostisbehere has arguably been Philadelphia’s most impressive player in the preseason thus far, the Flyers chose to send him back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to continue development Saturday morning, which is a responsible move. Flyers GM Ron Hextall is keen on being patient with prospects. There is no need to rush, especially when a prospect like Gostisbehere is playing at such a high level.
Last November, Gostisbehere tore his ACL with the Phantoms just after a brief stint filling an open spot on the blue line for the Flyers. While he looked 100% this summer, ACL injuries are nothing to tamper with. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to guys coming back from an ACL tear. Might as well send him back to the minors to ensure that he’s fully recovered.
Does Gostisbehere’s return to Lehigh Valley mean that his chances of playing with the Flyers are gone? Not at all. If a defenseman goes down with an injury, he will likely be the first one to get an opportunity. I fully expect Gostisbehere to be a regular with the big club before the 2015-16 season’s end, but for right now, the Flyers are right in taking a conservative approach with him.
Ryan Quigley is a Sports Writer for www.RantSports.com covering the NFL and the NHL. Follow him on Twitter @Quigs311 or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.
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