I’ve at all times been on the report in saying that I imagine reunions in sports activities are by no means a good suggestion. Whether or not or not it’s due to previous success, continued expectations, or the potential of a participant ruining his legacy with the respective membership, there are a lot of causes that reunions can go bitter. Nonetheless, identical to with something in life, there are particular conditions the place you may make it work, and I imagine Shayne Gostisbehere suits that mildew. He was initially a commerce deadline acquisition by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023, and performed 38 video games for the staff mixed between the common season and the playoffs.
In his first stint, he confirmed flashes of being a participant that would assist the staff in areas they struggled. The Hurricanes had simply traded Tony DeAngelo to the Philadelphia Flyers the earlier summer season, and changed him with an getting older Brent Burns in a take care of the San Jose Sharks. Whereas nonetheless efficient in his day, Burns was not the reply to the staff’s powerplay, so Gostisbehere was introduced in to attempt to support in that regard. Whereas his play was superb total, his total influence was restricted by the actual fact he wasn’t actually given a possibility on the PP1 unit and was largely given third-pair minutes.
When Gostisbehere turned a free agent in the summertime of 2023, the Hurricanes opted to go in one other path and determined a reunion with DeAngelo can be higher than re-signing Ghost. Bear in mind what I mentioned about reunions? DeAngelo was by no means capable of recapture the 51-point type he demonstrated within the 2021-22 season, and performed simply 31 video games for the staff final season regardless of being their finest powerplay quarterback. The Hurricanes pivoted this previous summer season and re-kindled their relationship with Gostisbehere, signing him to a three-year take care of a $3.2 million common annual worth (AAV) — fairly the discount for a man who scored 56 factors with the Detroit Pink Wings final season.
The important thing to success for a participant like Gostisbehere is undoubtedly deploying him in conditions that profit his ability set. At 5-foot-11 and 180 kilos, he’s an undersized defender that isn’t a lot of a bodily presence. He makes use of his smarts to defend the push by maintaining tight gaps and an lively stick, however the worth he brings to any staff is on the offensive facet of issues. He’s alarmingly calm with the puck and sees the ice pretty much as good as anyone. He’s a fantastic outlet passer, and as he’s matured he’s discovered to attend for performs to develop moderately than drive the matter. His finest weapon, although, is his cannon of a shot from the purpose. He generates severe velocity and most significantly — he’s correct. And you may see the way it’s benefitted the staff already.
The Powerplay Is Flourishing
The largest space of apparent enchancment thus far? The powerplay. Gostisbehere has taken over for Burns on the highest unit, and the outcomes have been great. In fact, there’s solely a six-game pattern measurement thus far however the Hurricanes’ unit is working at a 26.1% fee, which as of this level has them seventh within the NHL. Traditionally, it’s been a unit that at all times struggles when it’s most wanted to be efficient, and that’s the world I really feel has benefitted essentially the most from the Gostisbehere addition. His calm demeanor with the puck and skill to not rush choices will probably be very important when the strain is on later within the season, and most significantly within the playoffs. Take a look at his poise and positioning right here:
stuart skinner makes a spotlight reel save, however shayne gostisbehere is ready to beat him proper after to make it a one objective sport. pic.twitter.com/EvLUosycVO
— zach (@zjlaing) October 23, 2024
In fact, I gained’t give Gostisbehere all the credit score for the preliminary PP success however he’s been a large a part of it. Martin Nečas was additionally promoted again to the PP1 over the summer season and thus far they’ve proven nice chemistry working off of each other. My guess is that they’ll enhance even additional because the unit adapts and continues to learn to play with one another. General, I really feel that the PP1 unit of Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, Nečas, and Gostisbehere is arguably the deepest and most dynamic group that the Hurricanes have deployed in any current years.
Chemistry with Sean Walker
We’ve all heard the saying “Huge folks beat up little folks”, so it’s arduous to think about how profitable a pairing of two well-undersized defensemen can operate within the modern-day NHL. Each standing at below 6-feet, Ghost’s pairing with Sean Walker makes up one of many smallest defensive duos within the sport immediately. However what they lack in measurement, they make up for with a mix of smarts, easy skating and puck motion to be efficient.
In 85 minutes collectively at 5-on-5 by means of seven video games, the Gostisbehere-Walker pairing, fondly often called “Ghostwalker” is rocking a 70.06 Corsi For proportion (CF%), which ranks first amongst all certified defensive pairings (minimal 50 minutes performed). Their anticipated objectives proportion (xG%) is at an unbelievable 79.3% — a testomony to how efficient they’ve been on the ice. The Hurricanes are producing a ton of offense with them on the market (7.13 anticipated objectives for – xGF) whereas conceding little or no in opposition to them (1.86 anticipated objectives in opposition to – xGA). The deeper you go into the stats, the extra spectacular they get. These guys have been completely dominant.
The truth that they’ve performed comparatively sheltered minutes is helpful to them as effectively, as their opposition could be matchup-based to deploy them to one of the best impact. They begin almost 60% of their shifts on the offensive facet of the ice, which is essential as a result of it permits their attacking qualities to shine whereas not placing them in danger defensively. The Hurricanes have Jaccob Slavin, Dmitry Orlov and Jalen Chatfield who’re greater than able to dealing with the harder defensive assignments, which in flip permits Gostisbehere and Walker a bit of extra freedom to do what they do finest. Thus far, the technique has labored extremely.
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In fact, the season continues to be very younger and something can occur as we transfer alongside — nevertheless it’s arduous to not be impressed with how Gostisbehere has re-settled into the staff. The expertise he gained within the Hurricanes’ system in his first stint has clearly aided his transition again into the group, and it’ll be attention-grabbing to see how he continues to develop as he will get much more comfy within the system. It’s notoriously taken defensemen a very long time to essentially grasp the staff’s defensive ideas and assignments — so it’s unbelievable to assume that Ghost may nonetheless simply be scratching the floor when it comes to what he has to supply to the staff transferring ahead.
