The same day the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association named him the city’s Pro Athlete of the Year, Shayne Gostisbehere will be a healthy scratch when the Flyers host Winnipeg later this evening.
In explaining the surprising decision, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol repeatedly used the phrase “growth and development,” adding that people shouldn’t “make too much out of it,” that there are just a “few things we’re asking him to concentrate on.”
“He’ll be out of the lineup tonight,” Hakstol said, per NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman. “That’s a part of growth and development and part of our group in terms of accountability in our play overall.”
Gostisbehere is, of course, coming off a spectacular rookie season, one in which he finished second to Artemi Panarin in the Calder Trophy voting.
In 17 games this season, Gostisbehere has three goals and seven assists. In Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout loss to Ottawa, he logged 21:49 of ice time and finished plus-2.
Not surprisingly, Gostisbehere told reporters he was “a little taken aback” when he learned he wouldn’t be playing tonight.
Andrew MacDonald is expected to be activated off IR and take Gostisbehere’s spot in the lineup versus the Jets.