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Even in demotion, Gostisbehere impresses Hextall

Detroit Red Wings v Philadelphia Flyers

Shayne Gostisbehere

NHLI via Getty Images

With Vinny Lecavalier (foot) back and defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo recently signed, Shayne Gostisbehere isn’t surprised that he’s heading back to the AHL Phantoms.

“I knew it was coming,” Gostisbehere told CSN Philly. “It was nothing I didn’t expect, of course. I mean, it’s going to happen. I’m a young guy.

“Guys like that over there [Colaiacovo] get called and signed. Guys have earned their stripes here already, so they get the opportunity to play, and my time will come.”

Gostisbehere made his season debut on Monday and got into his second contest on Friday. Flyers GM Ron Hextall wanted to make sure Gostisbehere understood that he wasn’t being sent down because he did anything wrong and Hextall left impressed by the 21-year-old defenseman’s understanding of his situation.

“He might be the first kid I ever dealt with who knows exactly where he is at as a player and where he needs to be to get better,” Hextall said. “I am almost taken aback by his understanding.”

Hextall and the Flyers are looking for Gostisbehere to work on his play in his own zone, but the general manager is upbeat about Gostisbehere given that he’s “sharp” and “coachable.”

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