The Philadelphia Flyers are fighting for a playoff berth. With talent such as, Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and Wayne Simmonds, they will be a tough team to overcome. And now it seems as if the Flyers have found another difference maker in Shayne Gostisbehere.
The young defenseman has taken the NHL by storm since his debut on November 14th. In that time, Gostisbehere has recorded 32 points, putting him in the top-20 of all blue-liners in scoring.
The most remarkable statistic of all is Gostisbehere’s 13 game point streak, over which he has amassed 12 assists and four goals. It’s the longest streak by a rookie defenseman in NHL history.
Many are comparing Gostisbehere’s streak to that of Dallas Stars leading defensemen, John Klingberg, who burst onto the scene last season. He led all rookie defensemen in points for the 2014-15 campaign with 40, even besting Calder Memorial Trophy winner, Aaron Ekblad.
Gostisbehere is currently nine points ahead of Colton Parayko for the rookie defensemen points lead. However, despite the impressive season Gostisbehere is having, it’s going to be a hard task to garner the prestigious Calder Trophy.
The Chicago Blackhawks, Artemi Panarin, leads all rookies with 54 points, and looks like the clear frontrunner. He has shown immense chemistry with NHL superstar, Patrick Kane, and has almost a 20 point lead on the second leading rookie scorer Arizona Coyotes rookie sensation, Max Domi.
Also standing in Gostisbehere’s path are Buffalo Sabres sensation, Jack Eichel, and Anaheim Ducks goaltender, John Gibson. However, it’s highly Iikely that given his current point streak and impressive play, Gostisbehere will at least be amongst the three finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy.
While Gostisbehere might not be the best first-year NHL star this season, there is little doubt of him being one of the most impressive. It seems as if the Philadelphia Flyers have found their defenseman of the future.