LD Shayne Gostisbehere (2012, 78th, PHI)

[FlyTimmo]

i see this is his 3rd season at Union.. any chance he signs with Philly after this year? or is he planning to get his degree? I see hes only 5'11 ish.. is his size a factor in college hockey at all? could size be his only issue making it into NHL?? or does he play a bigger game.. hhah sorry for all the questions.. just curious about the guy

I have heard that Ghost is interested in finishing his four years at Union, but it is very possible he may sign as well. He is listed at 160 pounds 5'11'', but he plays much bigger than those stats say. And anyways Erik Karlsson was only 6'00'' and 180lbs. Matthew Dumba is only 182, and Torey Krug is only 5'9'' 181 lbs. So his height should not be an issue, and his weight will continue to increase as he becomes stronger.

My guess is that he will either return to Union for his final year, or he will play in the AHL for the Phantoms. His NHL debut will probably come during the 2015-2016 season.

Also recently a rival head coach called Shayne Gostisbehere the best player in college hockey, and that includes Johnny Gaudreau from Boston College. Gostisbehere appears to be the real deal and even opposing coaches can agree that this kid is very good.

 

[Stizzle]

Some article that was published today...

Eye on the Future: Philadelphia Flyers Prospect Shayne Gostisbehere, Union College

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/ecac...e-gostisbehere

 

[King Forsberg]

Your link wasn't working for me but this one did.

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/eca...ladelphia-flyers-prospect-shayne-gostisbehere

 

[Roo Mad Bro]

Really good article. Wish the writer touched on his shot because I think that's one of his better attributes.

He's one of the better skaters in the nation.

 

[Calderone]

Do people think Ghost is gonna turn pro or go back to Union next year?

 

[Doodootheclown]

Recent article on Gostisbehere:

http://articles.philly.com/2014-02-...gostisbehere-college-hockey-hobey-baker-award

 

[OrangeBlack]

"Ghost" will leave Union after this (his Junior) year. Philadelphia has been watching him closely, and they want him. He's a special player and Union is a quality program that develops talent.

Thanks Pierre McGuire

Union doesn't develop NHL talent, the best player to come out of their program recently was Jeremy Welsh, a fringe NHL player. If the Flyers wanted Gostisbehere signed, he'd already be signed. The Flyers get their way, especially with signing their prospects.

"Develops talent?" Care to list all the great NHLers they've developed over the years?

Thanks for the warm welcome.

1) Source: Philadelphia Flyers staff.

2) "Union is a quality program that develops talent". In last three years Union has:

• Three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances (incl. final four and final eight)
• Two ECAC regular season championships
• Two ECAC tournament championships (incl. winning 2012-13 over the two NCAA finalists)
• Produced three AHL players (Kinkaid, Grosenick, Jooris) and three ECHL players (incl. Welsh).

Ask NHL GM's (including Philadelphia's Holmgren) who they'd like developing their talent, and Union's third-year staff will be near the top of the list.

Union is now the USCHO #1 NCAA team in the country (ahead of Minnesota and BC). Must be #1 without developing talent...

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Union is now the USCHO #1 NCAA team in the country (ahead of Minnesota and BC). Must be #1 without developing talent...

You didn't really prove them wrong by bringing up their current ranking. They're an older team that has been playing together for a while not really surprising to see them doing well this year. With all that said Gostisbehere is still the only NHL draft pick on the roster & despite what they are doing NHL teams aren't really pursuing their UFA's that heavy.

 

[OrangeBlack]

You didn't really prove them wrong by bringing up their current ranking. They're an older team that has been playing together for a while not really surprising to see them doing well this year. With all that said Gostisbehere is still the only NHL draft pick on the roster & despite what they are doing NHL teams aren't really pursuing their UFA's that heavy.

You're right LegionOfDoom. Not really surprising to see a school of 2,200 students, no scholarships, and one D1 sport ranked #1 in the country.

The fact that North Dakota, with 15 draft picks, is #13, and Union, with one draft pick, is #1 suggests Gostisbehere is playing for a staff that can develop players.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

You're right LegionOfDoom. Not really surprising to see a school of 2,200 students, no scholarships, and one D1 sport ranked #1 in the country.

The fact that North Dakota, with 15 draft picks, is #13, and Union, with one draft pick, is #1 suggests Gostisbehere is playing for a staff that can develop players.

I'm not saying they're a bad program but you just said they're great at developing talent when up to this point the best players they produced are career minor leaguer's. They're having a good year but outside of that nobody is really heavily on an NHL team's radar besides Gostisbehere. So the team success doesn't really change the perception here.

Gostisbehere could start to change that but until they start putting kids into the NHL people are still going to say that & they wouldn't be wrong.

 

[Paxon]

You're right LegionOfDoom. Not really surprising to see a school of 2,200 students, no scholarships, and one D1 sport ranked #1 in the country.

The fact that North Dakota, with 15 draft picks, is #13, and Union, with one draft pick, is #1 suggests Gostisbehere is playing for a staff that can develop players.

I'm not sure that's a reasonable conclusion. The other poster makes pretty valid points. Success at the NCAA level doesn't mean the program's doing a better job of developing talent than anyone else. It has a lot to do with the right mix of players being and remaining there. Having Gostisbehere, one of the best defensemen in college hockey, is obviously a huge part of that.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I'm not saying they're a bad program but you just said they're great at developing talent when up to this point the best players they produced are career minor leaguer's. They're having a good year but outside of that nobody is really heavily on an NHL team's radar besides Gostisbehere. So the team success doesn't really change the perception here.

Gostisbehere could start to change that but until they start putting kids into the NHL people are still going to say that & they wouldn't be wrong.

In his defense, he never said they develop NHL talent. He said they do a good job of developing talent in general, which I agree with. They aren't getting the recruits that other schools are getting and have proven over the last 3 years that they can compete with any team in the country.

 

[Roo Mad Bro]

Best dman in college hockey.

Even though he didn't register a point in the two east regional wins over Vermont and Providence, he was still named part of the all tourney team.

Had this great defensive sequence in a pivotal moment in today's game:



His accolades so far in his career:

2011-2012
-ECAC all rookie team

2012-2013
-2nd team CCM All-American
-ECAC 2nd team all league
-Member of USA WJC gold championship team

2013-2014
-Hobey Baker finalist (only dman)
-Presumably 1st team all american
-Co-MVP of ECAC
-Best defensive dman ECAC
-1st team all league
-ECAC tourney 1st team
-East regional 1st team



One of the best skaters in the nation, is great at stretch passes, and has an absolute bomb from the point. His size will be a concern (5'11 170 lbs or so), but he is extremely talented and has improved his defensive play a ton since he was drafted.

 

[Schenn10 Couturier*]

Cant believe the Flyers got him in 3rd round. He reminds me of a better skating (if you can believe that), more physical Nick Leddy. Also his shot is already NHL level, I believe clocked at 103 MPH.

Kids a gem, I think hes a better prospect than Morin, Hagg etc..

 

[FLYguy3911]

Cant believe the Flyers got him in 3rd round. He reminds me of a better skating (if you can believe that), more physical Nick Leddy. Also his shot is already NHL level, I believe clocked at 103 MPH.

Kids a gem, I think hes a better prospect than Morin, Hagg etc..

Where did you hear this?

Kids got a bomb no doubt, but I don't know if its physically possible considering his size at the moment.

 

[Schenn10 Couturier*]

Where did you hear this?

Kids got a bomb no doubt, but I don't know if its physically possible considering his size at the moment.

I read it on twitter from one of the scouts I follow. Possibly Pronman, I really cant recall who though. And really its not that crazy to imagine. The kid has an absolute ****in laser. Its not so much about size as it as technique and how you get your shot off.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I read it on twitter from one of the scouts I follow. Possibly Pronman, I really cant recall who though. And really its not that crazy to imagine. The kid has an absolute ****in laser. Its not so much about size as it as technique and how you get your shot off.

I know he has a bomb, but physics do play a role. It's no coincidence Chara and Weber have the hardest shots in the league. Leverage combined with brute strength. Those are big dudes getting a lot of weight behind their shots to generate velocity. The torque he would have to generate to make up for what he lacks in mass, like I said I don't think it's physically possible at this point in his career.

Regardless, he is an electric player with a bright future. A nice gem found by Union and good scouting by the Flyers.

 

[Jtown]

Cant believe the Flyers got him in 3rd round. He reminds me of a better skating (if you can believe that), more physical Nick Leddy. Also his shot is already NHL level, I believe clocked at 103 MPH.

Kids a gem, I think hes a better prospect than Morin, Hagg etc..

I see the leddy comparisons and it worries me. I hope he can be more effective in his own end

 

[Schenn10 Couturier*]

I see the leddy comparisons and it worries me. I hope he can be more effective in his own end

Hes way more willing to engage physically than Leddy which is a positive and is a better skater which always helps in your own end. I think he will be fine honestly. Hes so dynamic in the other end.

 

[HighOFFHockey]

What an unfortunate name this poor kid has.

Everyone calls him Ghost for short.

 

[irunthepeg]

Huge game by the kid vs. Minnesota last night. Union won 7-4 and Ghost had 1G2A and was +7!!! Won player of the tournament too, I believe.

He's shifty and skilled, when he bulks up a bit more Philly may have someone special on their hands.

 

[FlyTimmo]

Huge game by the kid vs. Minnesota last night. Union won 7-4 and Ghost had 1G2A and was +7!!! Won player of the tournament too, I believe.

He's shifty and skilled, when he bulks up a bit more Philly may have someone special on their hands.

Generally, I don't take plus minus to seriously, but +7 in a 7-4 game is crazy. That was one of the most dominant performances I've ever seen by a defenseman at that level. Minnesota could not do anything to stop him. He is making a strong case at being Philly's top prospect and if he adds a little more bulk the sky is the limit. In a come years that Gostisbehere-Morin pairing could be one of the most dominant in the NHL.

 

[Broad Street Elite]

Generally, I don't take plus minus to seriously, but +7 in a 7-4 game is crazy. That was one of the most dominant performances I've ever seen by a defenseman at that level. Minnesota could not do anything to stop him. He is making a strong case at being Philly's top prospect and if he adds a little more bulk the sky is the limit. In a come years that Gostisbehere-Morin pairing could be one of the most dominant in the NHL.

That is one of the more dominant individual performances by any defenseman at any level imo.... in a Championship game no less.

Ghost has been good all season, but it really is amazing to see him elevate his game in the biggest game of his life, on national television, in the city where he was drafted to play. Stuff of dreams.

 

[Dr Quincy]

One of the best individual hockey performances I've ever seen. Just a dynamic skater who looked far faster and more agile than anyone else on the ice.
Only question is whether or not he can play in his own end against a heavy team of NHL adult men.

 

[irunthepeg]

Generally, I don't take plus minus to seriously, but +7 in a 7-4 game is crazy. That was one of the most dominant performances I've ever seen by a defenseman at that level. Minnesota could not do anything to stop him. He is making a strong case at being Philly's top prospect and if he adds a little more bulk the sky is the limit. In a come years that Gostisbehere-Morin pairing could be one of the most dominant in the NHL.

That is one of the more dominant individual performances by any defenseman at any level imo.... in a Championship game no less.

Ghost has been good all season, but it really is amazing to see him elevate his game in the biggest game of his life, on national television, in the city where he was drafted to play. Stuff of dreams.

Agreed with both of you. Selfishly, I hoped for my friend Bodie to have the game of his life but unfortunately it wasn't his best. Still though, what a game and what careers for both of them at the college level.