Flyers Daily News

Flyers’ Fan Favorite ‘Ghost’ Signs With Red Wings

Published

10 months ago

July 2, 2023

Chuck Bausman

Shayne Gostisbehere (AP photo)

Flyers fan favorite Shayne Gostisbehere signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.

The Hurricanes’ free-agent defenseman’s deal is for $4.125 million, the Red Wings announced.

Gostisbehere, 30, made his mark with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was a frequent power-play quarterback, a little loose on defense.

He led all free-agent defensemen with 13 goals this past season. His 41 points are second among unrestricted free-agent defensemen. He played seven seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, from 2014-21.

Philadelphia adopted Gostisbehere as one of its own. He was a shot machine from the point and a fast, skilled skater. When Flyers fans yelled “shoot” during the power play, “Ghost” accommodated them.

In April 2014, Ghost arrived in Philadelphia with his Union College hockey team for the Frozen Four. He was something of a celebrity in Philly, having been drafted by the Flyers in 2012 in the third round, 78th overall.

He also was the centerpiece of the Union hockey team that won the first NCAA championship, 7-4, over Minnesota. Ghost had a goal and two assists in the title game.

(Another Frozen Four team in 2014 was North Dakota, which lost to Minnesota in the semifinals. North Dakota was coached by Dave Hakstol. A little more than a year later, Hakstol was hired as Flyers’ head coach. Johnny Gaudreau, Patrick Brown and Kevin Hayes were on Boston College, which lost to Union in the semifinals. Some Frozen Four we had in Philly that year, eh?)

Ghost had an outstanding first season with the Flyers in 2015-16. He scored a career-high 17 goals that included eight goals and 14 assists on the power play.

He was runner-up to Artemi Panarin for rookie of the year. Connor McDavid finished third that year, ahead of Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin and Max Domi.

Up And Down Career

Ghost’s career couldn’t have looked brighter. Until it didn’t. He had injury issues. His effectiveness waned. In his final season with the Flyers — 2020-21 — he had Covid, he was a healthy scratch multiple times, he was waived — and cleared waivers. The season before he had two knee surgeries.

By the end of his days in Philly, trading him for a fresh start made sense for both parties.

He played six seasons in Philly. In 381 games, he scored 60 goals (27 on the power play), 159 assists and was a minus-31.

The Flyers traded him in July 2021 for, well, mostly cash. Ghost went to Arizona along with a 2022 second-round pick and seventh-round pick.

What the Flyers received in return was $4.5 million of cap relief that season and next, which is what remained on Ghost’s contract.

After a year and a half with the Coyotes, he was traded to Carolina this past season. He played 23 games with the Hurricanes. Thirty-four of his 87 career goals are on the power play. Of his 224 assists, 106 are on the power play.

Gostisbehere is going to a rising Detroit team under the rebuilding eye of general manager Steve Yzerman. The Wings were 17th in power-play percentage last season. It’s an aspect of the game where Gostisbehere should add a boost.

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