Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers and now playing elsewhere, this defender is on pace for his best offensive season.
The Philadelphia Flyers have had a few defenders come through their ranks. They have experience with offensive defenders who have some defensive warts in their game. Tony DeAngelo was the latest one to get sent out this past off-season.
Before DeAngelo was Shayne Gostisbehere. Gostisbehere was a third round pick from the 2012 NHL entry draft.
Gostisbehere Was a Talented Defender
Gostisbehere's offensive talents were apparent immediately. In his rookie season he scored 46 points in 64 games. He notched 17 goals, which remains his career high in goals to this day.
He played 20 minutes of ice time on average. He was stapled to the power play where he averaged four minutes per game on the man advantage. Of his 46 points that year 22 came from the power play.
He was the runner up to the Calder Trophy for best rookie in the NHL. He lost to Artemi Panarin but finished ahead of Connor McDavid in voting.
Gostisbehere Flying High With the Red Wings
This season Gostisbehere has 19 points in 23 games. That's good for a 0.83 points per game pace. His best season with the Flyers came in 2017-18, two years after his rookie season. He finished with 64 points in 78 games, a 0.82 points per game pace.
He's skating over 19 minutes a night most nights and averaging just shy of four minutes of power play time on ice per game. 10 of his 19 points have come from the power play - similar to 2017-18 where 33 of his 64 points were with the man-advantage.
Say what you will about his defensive game, Gostisbehere has been a talented offensive player since he entered the NHL. The success he is experiencing with the Red Wings is a welcomed sight.
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